It seems like these outlier freeze events during the winter are getting more and more common to the point that maybe we should just expect a few days that are much colder that what we are used to during the winter. While most of us are able to crank up the heater to survive these arctic blasts, our plants aren’t quite so lucky. Unfortunately, we are likely going to lose some plants this week.

We talked about the new growing zone map that came out last year from the USDA showing Tulsa moving to a new growing zone with a higher minimum average extreme temperature of 5 to 10 degrees. We exceeded that low temperature by a few degrees, but not horribly so. However, there were likely some micro-climates that got chillier than that, so how do we do the best we can for our plants to help them recover? Here’s some tips.

Yes, we’ve been getting some moisture in both snow, sleet, and rain. These events help provide the winter water our plants need. However, we’ll need to keep an eye on how much we receive throughout the winter to make sure our plants are getting enough. Weather permitting, you should water your plants once or twice a month if we are not getting much natural moisture.

Also be aware of your plants that are perhaps located underneath the eaves of your home or in a protected area. While we may get some natural moisture out in the yard, some of these protected places can miss out due to the water being diverted by gutters or French drains. So, keep an eye on them as well. They too get thirsty.

Your plants don’t need fertilizer in this “dormant” part of the year, but when it starts to warm up, give them an appropriate dose of your favorite fertilizer to help as they begin to grow again.

If you didn’t put down a layer of mulch around your plants last year, your plants could be a little more exposed to the winter that necessary. Mulch helps maintain soil temperatures and retain moisture, so mulch is always a good idea. I know it’s a little too cold now to be out there spreading mulch, but plan on adding mulch in the spring. It will not only help your plants survive the summer but will continue to provide protection throughout the winter. You can get free mulch from the City of Tulsa Green Waste Site with a Tulsa County id or utility bill. Just drive out and pick up what you need.

Also, if you planted a small, thin barked tree like a maple or a fruit tree last year, tree wrap is a good investment. In the winter, the bark on thin barked trees warms up and expands during the day. At night when the temperatures get colder, the bark contracts and freezes. If it does this over and over, the bark can get damaged, and the tree never recovers. To prevent this, loosely wrap the bark up to the first branch with tree wrap to help minimize this damage and then remove this tree wrap in the spring.

So, try to stay warm, and don’t forget our plants still need attention in the winter. Good luck.

You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, dropping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th Street, or by emailing us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org. Photo OSU Ag. Communications