How a hard freeze damages desert plants

December and January swing sharply between warm afternoons and freezing nights, and that repeated freeze and thaw is what tender plants cannot tolerate. The damage is also delayed. A hard freeze rarely looks severe the next morning; the blackened leaves, split bark, and dieback appear days later as the tissue collapses, by which point the only option is to prune away the loss.

The plants that need watching

Some species tolerate cold and some have little defense. The vulnerable list here includes:

• Citrus of every kind, lemons and limes most of all
• Bougainvillea and hibiscus, which blacken at the first hard freeze
• Many cacti and succulents
• Specimen and high-value plants that are costly to replace

Protection that has to come first

The cover has to be in place before the cold arrives. By the time a freeze warning posts, it is already too late. Because the work runs on a seasonal plan, your cold-tender plants are identified ahead of the season, so nothing is missed in the rush. When cold is coming, the crew handles:

• Frost cloth over tender plants, the breathable kind that holds warmth without scorching foliage
• Mulch worked over the root zones to bank soil heat and shield the roots
• Cold-season irrigation adjusted so plants are not pushing soft new growth into a freeze

Each plant judged on its own location

A property is a patchwork of microclimates. A lemon against a warm south wall may come through untouched while the same tree in an open, low corner where cold air settles takes damage. We assess each plant where it stands and protect accordingly. After the cold passes, we handle the post-freeze clean-up, pruning what was lost and helping the survivors recover.

For how the seasonal work fits the overall service, see how our maintenance plans work.

To have your plants protected ahead of the season, call 520-663-3533 to arrange winter protection.