By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
A state water conservation and quality protection program has advice for outdoor plant selection and protection this winter.
Water University, a public outreach program through Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, has released a few practices regarding winter plant protection, including selecting the right plants before planting.
“The best cold defense is choosing plants that are cold-hardy to their region, or cold-hardiness zone,” said Daniel Cunningham, AgriLife Research horticulturalist in Dallas. “A plant that is native or adapted to its zone will be naturally resilient to all commonly occurring conditions there, including normal low winter temperatures.”
Water University publishes a one-page publication—Right Plant, Right Place for Winter—that highlights proper selection and placement practices with regards to cold-hardiness zones, cold-hardiness zone maps to help choose the right plants and proven techniques about irrigation for keeping plants hydrated.
“It’s basically a one-page guide that you can save on your phone or print and take to the store,” Cunningham said. “It’s the hyper-condensed version of all you need to make your plants work for you through winter.”
Water University also offers more than 20 classes to the public, along with professional courses related to water conservation and water use efficiency.
Right Plant, Right Place for Winter can be downloaded by clicking here.