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

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


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  • 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:

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  • 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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Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold named in Florida court filing

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Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold named in Florida court filing


Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was named in a Florida court order that is connected to a robbery and kidnapping case. Court records show that the robbery and kidnapping were allegedly orchestrated by 23-year-old Boakai Hilton, by an associate of Arnold, in retaliation for two robberies that happened at an Airbnb Arnold was renting in Largo.



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Video: Injured Florida manatee rescued by authorities, receiving medical care at ZooTampa

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Video: Injured Florida manatee rescued by authorities, receiving medical care at ZooTampa


An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.

What we know:

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The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.

READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD

Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.

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Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.

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What we don’t know:

LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.

By the numbers:

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As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.

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Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.

READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week

The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.

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The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FloridaManateesZooTampa



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Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters

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Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters


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HAVANA (Reuters) – Four people were killed and seven others were wounded on Feb. 25 after a speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban forces, who returned fire, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said.

All four dead were aboard the Florida-based speedboat, and another six were injured, Cuba said. In addition, the Cuban commander of border patrol boat was wounded, Cuba said.

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The wounded foreign attackers were evacuated and received medical attention, Cuba said.

The incident took place amid heightened tension between Cuba and the United States, which has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3, removing a key Cuban ally from power.

“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.

Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana.



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