January in Georgia is often the time for our first intense freeze. We actually need cold weather to put our plants fully into dormancy, and freezing weather will not usually bother most trees and established shrubs. Many plants benefit from periods of “chilling hours” – especially fruiting trees. For most established plants, covering with a frost cloth when temperatures go into the 20s may not be worth the effort, only raising the temperature under the cloth about one degree! There is also the chance of breaking stems and damaging spring buds when placing and removing frost cloths.
Newly-planted, marginally hardy plants (plants for Zone 8 and above), and container plants do need some protection from a cold snap. Any plants in easily-moved containers should be placed against a sunny wall of your house, or in an unheated garage. If the container is too big or heavy to move, cover it with a breathable cloth, like an old bed sheet, all the way to the ground to protect the roots and secure it so it can’t below away. Remove the sheet each day as the temperatures rise above freezing and replace in the evening if the temperatures are again plummeting.
Newly-planted shrubs and perennials in your garden beds will benefit from piling leaves around them and/or mulching the area with 2-4 inches of mulch, to help protect the roots.
All plants in your garden beds and those in containers will benefit from a nice soaking of water if it hasn’t rained. Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil. After watering your plants, drain your garden hoses and remove the nozzles, so water doesn’t remain inside and cause the hoses to burst. Drain outdoor irrigation lines, as well, if you have them. Turn off the water to your outside water spigots, if you don’t insulate them, but leave the spigots in the open position to drain any water left in the pipes.
