Protecting Landscape

At Citrus Park Mall, in Tampa Florida, landscapers wrapped flowers in freeze-cloth. The annuals will be the first to go in the cold, according to professional landscaper Shane Schanstra. ''Anything that flowers or blooms, they're going to be the first to get hit. There's no guarantee,'' said Schanstra, President of Sunsetbay Landscaping. Schanstra's company handles mostly commercial jobs but the advice he's giving applies to anyone with a yard. When it dips into the 20's, some plants, even if they're covered, just won't survive. If you can, he says, move plants inside.

That's what they've done at Earl's Nursery in Tampa where Walton Matthews gave us important advice we hadn't heard before.

''Try to get them watered ahead of time, because a plant that's hydrated, will perform much better in the cold weather than a plant that's dry,'' said Matthews.

Matthew's family business has been a Tampa mainstay for decades. He says coverings should be anchored and reach to the ground to trap heat. If you can't cover the entire tree like palms, some covering is better than none.

''When the wind dies down, there's a better chance for frost and that's typically when everybody covers plants. Protect them from frost,'' said Tim Purdy.

At the University of Tampa, Purdy has 100-acres to tend to. Instead of wrapping plants, his philosophy is to cut back frostbit plants later.

Sometimes Mother Nature wins, no matter what you do. ''Anytime you get into the 20's, pray hard, because there's nothing you can honestly do,'' said Schanstra.