What a Hard Freeze Can Do to Your Lawn, Trees, and Shrubs (and How to Prevent Damage)

Central Texas may not experience long winters, but sudden hard freezes can cause significant damage to your landscape. A hard freeze—when temperatures fall below 28°F for several hours—can kill or severely damage plants that are otherwise healthy. Understanding how a hard freeze impacts your lawn, trees, and shrubs—and how to prevent it—can help save you time and money in the spring.

How Hard Freezes Affect Your Lawn

Warm-season grasses such as St. Augustine and Bermuda go dormant in winter, but they’re not immune to freeze damage. A sudden hard freeze can damage the crown of the grass, leading to delayed green-up in the spring or bare patches. Lawns without adequate moisture or insulation are more likely to suffer root damage or fungal infections after a freeze.

Impact on Trees and Shrubs

Young trees, flowering shrubs, and tropical species are most vulnerable to freeze damage. A hard freeze can rupture plant cells, causing split bark, leaf drop, or dieback in branches. In extreme cases, the entire plant may fail to recover. Evergreen shrubs and trees may show browning or curling leaves after exposure to hard freezes.

Delayed Symptoms and Spring Surprises

Freeze damage isn’t always visible right away. Many trees and shrubs appear normal until spring, when dead branches fail to leaf out. If the root system or cambium layer is damaged, you may notice stunted growth, leaf yellowing, or complete plant failure weeks or months after the freeze.

How to Prevent Damage Before a Hard Freeze

The most effective freeze protection strategies include:

• Watering Before the Freeze: Moist soil helps retain heat.

• Mulching: Apply mulch to insulate roots and reduce moisture loss.

• Covering Plants: Use frost cloth or blankets to protect shrubs and flower beds.

• Avoiding Pruning: Wait until after the last frost to prune—new growth is more vulnerable.

Irrigation Systems Are at Risk Too

A hard freeze can cause sprinkler heads, pipes, and backflow preventers to crack. Shut off and drain your irrigation system before a freeze and insulate all exposed components. Failing to winterize your system could lead to expensive repairs in the spring.

What to Do After a Freeze

After a hard freeze, assess your landscape carefully. Wait to prune or remove damaged plants until new growth begins in the spring. Water deeply if the soil is dry, and apply fertilizer only after plants show signs of recovery. Resist the urge to immediately replace frozen plants—they may still recover once temperatures warm.

Call in the Professionals

If you’re unsure how to protect your landscape, call Waco Landscapes & Irrigation. Our local team understands how Central Texas weather affects lawns, trees, and shrubs—and we offer winter prep services designed to prevent freeze damage.

Conclusion

Hard freezes can take a toll on even the healthiest yards, but with the right preparation, you can minimize the damage. Contact Waco Landscapes & Irrigation today to prepare your landscape for winter and protect your investment.