Florida

How to save your Florida plants after a winter freeze: A guide

Published

2 months ago

February 5, 2026

Press Room

How to save your Florida plants after a winter freeze: A guide

If your yard was damaged by the freezing temperatures, don’t panic. Some plants may look worse before they get better.
Scratch the bark of a plant lightly with a fingernail or a coin. If the revealed area is green, the plant is still alive.
Water your plants. Moist soil holds more heat than dry soil and releases it slowly overnight.

Recent freezing weather may have damaged plants in your yard, but not all damage is permanent.

Some plants may look worse before they get better, according to Sara MacDonald at the St. Lucie County Extension office of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

We compiled a list of things residents should do with their plants after freezing temperatures to help them recover and avoid causing more damage, along with some tips for preventing damage before the next freeze. Here’s what to do to tell if your plant has been killed, and how to save it if it still has a chance.

How to tell if a plant is killed by freezing temperatures, or just damaged

Scratch the bark of a plant lightly with a fingernail or a coin. If the revealed area is green, the plant is still alive. If it is brown or black, the plant is likely dead.

Guidelines for watering Florida plants before and after a freeze

Here are some things to remember when watering plants:

Moist soil holds more heat than dry soil and releases it slowly overnight
Cold, windy weather can dry plants out
Water plants to help thaw soil and rehydrate roots
Container plants may need extra attention
Suspend irrigation during freezing conditions

What NOT to do after plants are frozen

Here are some things to avoid if your plants suffered during low temperatures.

Avoid heavy pruning right after a freeze. Cutting too early can remove living tissue and stimulate vulnerable new growth.
Don’t fertilize right after a freeze. Wait until warmer weather and active growth return
Don’t over-water. Watering is important to help plants that dried out in the cold, dry air, but drowning the plants will cause more harm than good.

How to protect Florida plants from the next freeze

Another cold front is moving through Florida on Thursday, Feb. 5., so here are some tips to protect your plants.

Cover your plants to trap heat from the soil, and make sure the cover reaches the ground, said Maria Quirico Bautista, a UF/IFAS Lake County residential horticulture agent via email Jan. 29. Secure the cover with bricks or pins, especially this weekend since very gusty winds are expected.

Recommended covers include:

frost cloth
burlap
old bed sheets

Additionally, apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch to insulate roots, but avoid piling mulch against the trunk.

You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tcpalm.com/newsletters.

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Florida

Alligator breaks into Florida home, takes a dip in pool before capture

Published

5 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Alligator breaks into Florida home, takes a dip in pool before capture

TAMPA, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida police thought they were responding to a home intruder, but instead they were met with a huge gator.

The Tampa Police Department said a little after 3 a.m. on March 29, officers responded to a residence only to find that an alligator had broken into the home and let itself in for a swim in the homes pool.

See also: Treasure Coast hospitals see more e-bike injuries amid increased accidents

Body camera video shows officers walking up to the home, when all of a sudden there is a loud bang followed by a hissing sound.

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With help from an alligator trapper, the alligator was safely removed.

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Florida

Florida cities rank among best coastal small towns in United States

Published

18 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Florida cities rank among best coastal small towns in United States

Stuart ranked No. 2 for best coastal small town in the United States.

Stuart ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for best coastal small town.

The Treasure Coast city has been recognized as one of the best coastal small towns in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for several years. Stuart was ranked No. 2 in 2023, No. 1 in 2024 and No. 2 in 2025.

Stuart was praised for its access to the St. Lucie River; its parks, such as Flagler and Shepard; its museums, such as Stuart Heritage Museum and Road to Victory Military Museum and its restaurant-lined downtown.

Florida secured two spots on the top 10 list, with Stuart at No. 2 and Cedar Key at No. 10.

These rankings are determined by a panel of industry experts, invited weekly by USA Today 10BEST, who nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across different areas. 10BEST editors then vet the nominations before selecting a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for four weeks.

Best coastal small towns in the United States

These are the top 10 best coastal small towns in the United States, according to the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards:

1. Pismo Beach, California
2. Stuart, Florida
3. Morro Bay, California
4. Avalon, California
5. Castine, Maine
6. Cape May, New Jersey
7. Gulf Shores, Alabama
8. Beaufort, North Carolina
9. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
10. Cedar Key, Florida

Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.

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Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Fantasy 5 results for April 7, 2026

Published

1 day ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Fantasy 5 results for April 7, 2026

The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.

Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 7 drawing

05-15-22-33-37, Mega Ball: 02

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from April 7 drawing

Midday: 06-20-26-27-33

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 7 drawing

Morning: 09

Matinee: 15

Afternoon: 04

Evening: 15

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

Winning Pick 2 numbers from April 7 drawing

Midday: 2-8, FB: 9

Evening: 8-2, FB: 8

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 7 drawing

Midday: 5-2-2, FB: 9

Evening: 3-7-5, FB: 8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 7 drawing

Midday: 8-7-2-5, FB: 9

Evening: 6-6-2-6, FB: 8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 7 drawing

Midday: 7-1-7-3-0, FB: 9

Evening: 6-3-2-2-7, FB: 8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

Full name
City of residence
Game won
Date won
Amount won
Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

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