An artic cold front pushing into our area later tonight promises to bring much colder temperatures and the possibility of sleet to parts of North Texas. Fortunately for us in the Metroplex, the temperature should remain above freezing. While these temps may be uncomfortable to us humans (and our pets,) they should not be a problem for most plants.
What harms the majority of plants is extremely cold and DRY weather that is well below freezing. When temperatures are predicted to plummet, the best protection you can provide for your plants is to water your landscape. If the soil is wet, even if the temperatures plunge into the single digits (which, can happen in North Texas), the soil temperature won’t drop below 32 degrees which protects the roots of your plants.
While your plants will survive the cold if you’ve watered, we recommend covering your blooming plants, such as pansies, or your more sensitive plants. An old sheet or cloth towel is what we recommend to our customers. Never cover your plants with a plastic sheet or tarp. The plastic works like a magnifying glass, and will scald the plants underneath.