10/16/2026
The first frost of fall is on its way, are your plants weather ready? Follow these steps to prevent landscape damage as nighttime temperatures dip below 36°F this weekend.
1. Water and mulch soils around plants and trees, especially for new plantings.
2. Bring tender plants inside or cover them with staked bedsheets overnight, then uncover in the morning.
3. Unhook garden hoses from spigots and drain them prior to freezing temperatures (32°F) to prevent splits, burst fittings and frozen pipes and back flow devices.
4. Don’t walk or drive on green lawns showing frost, or mow or fertilize them.
5. Don’t cut spent foliage to the ground for winter—leave at least 12 inches as insulation from wind and cold.
6. Wait until spring to prune trees to avoid frost cracking.
Find more weather ready tips at hles.unl.edu.
