Happy Thanksgiving

 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for their continued support and

business.  We wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. 

Freeze Warnings

In the last week, San Antonio has been warned of three different nights of temperatures dipping below freezing.  Depending on where you are in the area, you may have dodged the freezing temperatures or just had a quick freeze. 

If you were able to get your plants covered in time, they may still be looking good.  Be sure to uncover them now that temperatures have warmed up again and make sure they are moist. 

If you have some plants that couldn't handle the cold, they may be look brown and wilted.  If it is your seasonal fall plants that have taken the hit, you should go ahead and remove them.  If it is one of your shrubs, just leave it - it may not be dead even though it looks it.  Be sure to cover it for future freezes and wait until spring before removing it - it may bounce back.

With artic temperatures already dipping down to South Texas, we can expect more freezing temperatures this winter.  Take advantage of the warmer temperatures we have now to get your landscape ready for the next freeze.  The following post from two weeks ago should help you be prepared.
http://preferredlandscape.blogspot.com/2014/11/november-checklist.html
Stay Warm!

Give Thanks

As it is the week between these two holidays, we thought this was appropriate!

Ready or Not, here comes the cold

In last weeks post, we told you the average date for the first freeze in San Antonio is November 28th.  Well, we are likely to see that first freeze several weeks earlier than average.  As the cold front has moved in and settled in SA this week, it has gotten colder every day with possible freezing temperatures tonight.

So as everyone else is running to the grocery store for milk and bread, you should get your plants ready.  If you have plants in containers, you should pull them inside the garage tonight.  That should keep them warm enough.  For your other frost sensitive plants, you should go out and cover them with an old sheet or burlap sheet.

Preferred Thanks You

"Since the birth of our nation, there have always been brave men and women standing in the gap to protect our nation and ensure our freedom.

 

As we set today aside to honor and thank our veterans, let us be mindful that we should do this every day of the year and not just one"  ~Beth Pennington, foundermilitary-missions.org

 

We at Preferred Landscape and Lighting thank all who have and are currently serving our great nation.

 

 

November Checklist

Now that November has rolled in, it is important to know that the first freeze is predicted around November 28th in San Antonio.  That leaves only a few weeks to get your plants cold weather protected!

What can you do to protect your garden from frost?
1.  Mulch, Mulch, Mulch - mulching all landscape plantings and the garden is a standard cold-protection technique.  It helps insulate the root systems of all your plants.  It also traps soil warmth built up during the growing season and preserves any soil moisture.

2.  Move container grown plants into the garage or even indoors to protect them.

3.  When a heavy freeze is predicted, cover any freeze-sensitive plants at dusk after the soil and plants have absorbed the sun's heat; covering the plants traps the radiating heat. 

4.  Don't use plastic coverings or sheets to cover your plants!  Better choices include large cardboard boxes, thick wool blankets or bubblewrap.  Make sure the covering goes all the way to the ground to trap the heat.

5.  Uncover plants when the temperature rises above freezing to let the plant processes resume normal function - don't keep them covered all winter - they will suffocate!