For years, the presence of chickens in some Jacksonville backyards remained an open secret; observant neighbors knew they existed, and many didn’t mind. But some did. “Between neighbors complaining and code enforcement not really knowing what to do, a group of backyard chicken keepers approached the city and said, ‘We’d like you to codify this,’” [&#8230;]

For years, the presence of chickens in some Jacksonville backyards remained an open secret; observant neighbors knew they existed, and many didn’t mind. But some did.
<figure id="attachment_44831" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44831" style="width: 240px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/05/Jennewein_S02-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="wp-image-44831 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Stephen Jennewein" width="240" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/05/Jennewein_S02-240x300.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-44831" class="wp-caption-text">Stephen Jennewein</figcaption></figure>
“Between neighbors complaining and code enforcement not really knowing what to do, a group of backyard chicken keepers approached the city and said, ‘We’d like you to codify this,’” said Stephen Jennewein, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) agricultural agent.
Following some debate, city officials decided to allow female chickens in certain residential zoning districts on the condition their owners complete a UF/IFAS Extension course on chicken care and apply for a permit. The city planning department began issuing permits in January 2014. It has issued more than 1,190 permits to date.
Jennewein teaches the UF/IFAS <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/duval/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Extension Duval County</a> <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/duval/agriculture-and-agribusiness-management/livestock-and-poultry/poultry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Backyard Hen seminar</a>, an hour-and-a-half rundown of poultry care offered for $10. Lecture topics include breed selection, health and nutrition, proper egg handling and coop design. Following a Q&amp;A session, he leads students to the Extension’s urban garden to view a demonstration coop and meet its residents, Henrietta and Gabby.
“I show students the coop design, how the coop works, the different parts of the coop, and I let them see a live chicken up close and personal, which I think is kind of important before they go out and buy one,” Jennewein said, chuckling.
Although Henreitta and Gabby are a well-matched pair, conventional wisdom indicates chicken keepers should maintain a flock of at least three hens because chickens are social creatures requiring stimulation and interaction, Jennewein said. They also require regular maintenance and feeding as well as a spacious coop capable of protecting them from predators like raccoons, foxes and even hawks, which have been known to fly off with smaller breeds.
The cumulative time, labor and financial commitment associated with owning and maintaining backyard chickens isn’t for everyone, Jennewein said.
<figure id="attachment_44833" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44833" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/05/Chicken--scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-44833 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Backyard hen seminar" width="300" height="197" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/05/Chicken--300x197.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-44833" class="wp-caption-text">A student of Jennewein&#8217;s class meets the Extension&#8217;s hens. (Courtesy of Stephen Jennewein)</figcaption></figure>
He experienced mixed feelings when one of his students addressed him after a class. The man thanked Jennewein and praised the presentation but said the information he learned convinced him he couldn’t shoulder the responsibility.
Backyard chicken keeping can prove rewarding for those willing to invest in it, however.
In addition to the fresh, nutrient-rich eggs the hens produce, they generate manure for gardens and consume pests, Jennewein said. And caring for the animals is often an engaging learning experience for children.
“Urban agriculture is becoming more of an important issue in Florida,” he said. “Hopefully, more municipalities are going to start reducing restrictions for people producing food in urban areas.”
Although the UF/IFAS Extension Duval County course is only available in English, Florida residents may take an online Spanish course offered through UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County.
Curso en linea: <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hardeeco/2023/05/18/curso-en-linea-manejo-de-aves-de-corral-en-florida/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manejo de Aves de Corral en Florida &#8211; UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County</a> 
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
<a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ifas.ufl.edu</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@UF_IFAS</a>

For years, the presence of chickens in some Jacksonville backyards remained an open secret; observant neighbors knew they existed, and many didn’t mind. But some did.
Stephen Jennewein
“Between neighbors complaining and code enforcement not really knowing what to do, a group of backyard chicken keepers approached the city and said, ‘We’d like you to codify this,’” said Stephen Jennewein, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) agricultural agent.
Following some debate, city officials decided to allow female chickens in certain residential zoning districts on the condition their owners complete a UF/IFAS Extension course on chicken care and apply for a permit. The city planning department began issuing permits in January 2014. It has issued more than 1,190 permits to date.
Jennewein teaches the UF/IFAS Extension Duval County Backyard Hen seminar, an hour-and-a-half rundown of poultry care offered for $10. Lecture topics include breed selection, health and nutrition, proper egg handling and coop design. Following a Q&A session, he leads students to the Extension’s urban garden to view a demonstration coop and meet its residents, Henrietta and Gabby.
“I show students the coop design, how the coop works, the different parts of the coop, and I let them see a live chicken up close and personal, which I think is kind of important before they go out and buy one,” Jennewein said, chuckling.
Although Henreitta and Gabby are a well-matched pair, conventional wisdom indicates chicken keepers should maintain a flock of at least three hens because chickens are social creatures requiring stimulation and interaction, Jennewein said. They also require regular maintenance and feeding as well as a spacious coop capable of protecting them from predators like raccoons, foxes and even hawks, which have been known to fly off with smaller breeds.
The cumulative time, labor and financial commitment associated with owning and maintaining backyard chickens isn’t for everyone, Jennewein said.
A student of Jennewein’s class meets the Extension’s hens. (Courtesy of Stephen Jennewein)
He experienced mixed feelings when one of his students addressed him after a class. The man thanked Jennewein and praised the presentation but said the information he learned convinced him he couldn’t shoulder the responsibility.
Backyard chicken keeping can prove rewarding for those willing to invest in it, however.
In addition to the fresh, nutrient-rich eggs the hens produce, they generate manure for gardens and consume pests, Jennewein said. And caring for the animals is often an engaging learning experience for children.
“Urban agriculture is becoming more of an important issue in Florida,” he said. “Hopefully, more municipalities are going to start reducing restrictions for people producing food in urban areas.”
Although the UF/IFAS Extension Duval County course is only available in English, Florida residents may take an online Spanish course offered through UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County.
Curso en linea: Manejo de Aves de Corral en Florida – UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS

For years, the presence of chickens in some Jacksonville backyards remained an open secret; observant neighbors knew they existed, and many didn’t mind. But some did. “Between neighbors complaining and code enforcement not really knowing what to do, a group of backyard chicken keepers approached the city and said, ‘We’d like you to codify this,’” […]

Ten years on, UF/IFAS poultry program keeps clucking

Jacksonville, the largest city by landmass in the contiguous United States, is also home to the country’s largest urban park system – more than 80,000 acres of land featuring more than 400 parks. For a decade, a cadre of gloved individuals armed with pruning shears has helped provide the city’s young trees with a healthy [&#8230;]

Jacksonville, the largest city by landmass in the contiguous United States, is also home to the country’s largest urban park system – more than 80,000 acres of land featuring more than 400 parks. For a decade, a cadre of gloved individuals armed with pruning shears has helped provide the city’s young trees with a healthy start.
<figure id="attachment_44433" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44433" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-44433 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Duval County Tree steward" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/04/018544-300x200.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-44433" class="wp-caption-text">A volunteer of the Duval County Tree Stewards trims a tree limb at a park near Jacksonville, Florida. (By Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS)</figcaption></figure>
Duval County’s tree stewards program began in 2014 thanks to a $2,000 <a href="https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida Forest Service</a> grant. Since that time, about 70 <a href="https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/mastergardener/volunteers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Master Gardener Volunteers</a> have chosen to tack on an additional 20 hours of arboriculture training to their 70 hours of horticulture training to become stewards.
Master Gardeners are part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension.
Larry Figart, a forester with<a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/duval/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> UF/IFAS Extension Duval County</a>, teaches the county’s tree steward course, and he’s gearing up to offer the next training session in May. At least 10 people had signed up by the middle of April.
The tree steward program is facilitated through a partnership with the city of <a href="https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jacksonville Parks, Recreation and Community Services department</a>. Twice a month throughout the year, groups of stewards visit parks throughout the city and prune young trees, including oaks, lacebark elms and crepe myrtles.
“We feel if we get to the trees when they’re young, we can fix some structural problems that help them live a longer, more productive life,” Figart said.
Figart estimates his students have managed to prune 4,245 trees since the program began. Their efforts have ensured Jacksonville’s immature trees are structurally sound and look attractive. They have also helped prepare the trees to withstand strong winds during hurricane season, effectively protecting the public from falling branches in the process.
<figure id="attachment_44441" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44441" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-44441 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Duval County tree stewards" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/04/018545-300x200.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-44441" class="wp-caption-text">A volunteer of the Duval County Tree Stewards trims a tree limb at a park near Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS)</figcaption></figure>
The stewards are also quick to honor pruning requests from city officials when officials notice problem areas or in preparation of city events, said Lauren Chappell, Jacksonville Parks, Recreation and Community Services project and grant coordinator.
Last year, the stewards assisted with the city’s 7 Creeks Festival, a celebration of local public lands at seven connected wilderness areas and parks in the 7 Creeks Recreation Area.
“The tree stewards went out to Betz-Tiger Point Preserve and trimmed the trees along the park roadway in preparation for the 1,000-plus attendees to have better access to different features of the park,” Chappell said.
In 2023, 18 Duval County tree stewards donated more than 191 hours working in 10 Jacksonville parks. They pruned more than 200 trees by removing defects, co-dominant stems and dead branches.
“I’ll ask participants, ‘Do you wait until your kids are 20 years old before you discipline them?’ And they’ll say, ‘No.’ And I’ll say, ‘Then why do we wait until a tree is 20 years old before we prune it?’” Figart said. “We can make them stronger, longer-lasting trees if we prune them while they’re young.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

Jacksonville, the largest city by landmass in the contiguous United States, is also home to the country’s largest urban park system – more than 80,000 acres of land featuring more than 400 parks. For a decade, a cadre of gloved individuals armed with pruning shears has helped provide the city’s young trees with a healthy start.
A volunteer of the Duval County Tree Stewards trims a tree limb at a park near Jacksonville, Florida. (By Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS)
Duval County’s tree stewards program began in 2014 thanks to a $2,000 Florida Forest Service grant. Since that time, about 70 Master Gardener Volunteers have chosen to tack on an additional 20 hours of arboriculture training to their 70 hours of horticulture training to become stewards.
Master Gardeners are part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension.
Larry Figart, a forester with UF/IFAS Extension Duval County, teaches the county’s tree steward course, and he’s gearing up to offer the next training session in May. At least 10 people had signed up by the middle of April.
The tree steward program is facilitated through a partnership with the city of Jacksonville Parks, Recreation and Community Services department. Twice a month throughout the year, groups of stewards visit parks throughout the city and prune young trees, including oaks, lacebark elms and crepe myrtles.
“We feel if we get to the trees when they’re young, we can fix some structural problems that help them live a longer, more productive life,” Figart said.
Figart estimates his students have managed to prune 4,245 trees since the program began. Their efforts have ensured Jacksonville’s immature trees are structurally sound and look attractive. They have also helped prepare the trees to withstand strong winds during hurricane season, effectively protecting the public from falling branches in the process.
A volunteer of the Duval County Tree Stewards trims a tree limb at a park near Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS)
The stewards are also quick to honor pruning requests from city officials when officials notice problem areas or in preparation of city events, said Lauren Chappell, Jacksonville Parks, Recreation and Community Services project and grant coordinator.
Last year, the stewards assisted with the city’s 7 Creeks Festival, a celebration of local public lands at seven connected wilderness areas and parks in the 7 Creeks Recreation Area.
“The tree stewards went out to Betz-Tiger Point Preserve and trimmed the trees along the park roadway in preparation for the 1,000-plus attendees to have better access to different features of the park,” Chappell said.
In 2023, 18 Duval County tree stewards donated more than 191 hours working in 10 Jacksonville parks. They pruned more than 200 trees by removing defects, co-dominant stems and dead branches.
“I’ll ask participants, ‘Do you wait until your kids are 20 years old before you discipline them?’ And they’ll say, ‘No.’ And I’ll say, ‘Then why do we wait until a tree is 20 years old before we prune it?’” Figart said. “We can make them stronger, longer-lasting trees if we prune them while they’re young.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

Jacksonville, the largest city by landmass in the contiguous United States, is also home to the country’s largest urban park system – more than 80,000 acres of land featuring more than 400 parks. For a decade, a cadre of gloved individuals armed with pruning shears has helped provide the city’s young trees with a healthy […]

Duval County volunteers keep Jacksonville trees trim

With more cold weather blowing towards our gardens, we need to brush up on frost protection. Read on for how, and to understand about microclimates on your landscape that might help.

<figure id="attachment_2461" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2461" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/files/2023/01/Frost-in-Landsacpe.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-2461 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="frost protection required" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/files/2023/01/Frost-in-Landsacpe-300x200.png"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2461" class="wp-caption-text">Photo: c/o Subscription Service</figcaption></figure>
With three days of hard freeze already this winter and another weekend of freezing temps ahead, our gardens need us to brush up on frost protection.
When does frost occur?
Frost, which is a layer of ice crystals, is formed when water vapor on a plant condenses and freezes without first becoming dew. The temperature does not have to go to freezing or below for frost to occur.  Frost can occur when the temperature is 36 degrees or below and wind and sky cover is favorable. Clear skies and a calm wind plus a temperature at 36 degrees or below contribute to the formation of frost.
Dew point also enters into consideration.  The easiest way to tell if we are going to have frost or a freeze is to watch local news/weather forecasts.  Our local meteorologists are very good about giving frost or freeze warnings.  I recommend watching rather than listening to a local forecast, because area weather maps are shown.  Frequently the area near the river and ocean are warmer than the official Jacksonville airport forecast.  Sometimes there is no frost or freeze east of the river.
Microclimates: It could be different at your house.
Another thing to consider is microclimates, especially in Duval County where there is such variety in home sites.  Land near the ocean and river or other large bodies of water can moderate the temperature as the water is warmer than the air temperature.  Most of our area is pretty flat, but cool air settles in low spots of the landscape.  Frost protection becomes critical further inland and in lower lying areas.
Trees Help. Again.
Tree coverage also prevents frost from settling on plants below them.  That’s why you will frequently see tropical plants below a live oak undamaged by frost.  The tree coverage reflects heat rising from the soil back down.  There have been maps with a frost-free circle in downtown Jacksonville!  All that concrete absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night. It might not feel warmer to you, though, as wind blows between tall buildings, but those plants need less frost protection.
Study your landscape for these microclimates.  Potted plants placed in front of your sliding glass doors under a porch overhang, may be protected enough.  Evergreen trees, like live oaks and southern magnolias may protect the plants below them.  Master gardens often claim their succulents in pots below a sabal palm have not succumbed to frost or freeze damage.  (This is a medium height properly pruned palm with more than a full half circle of foliage.) There are microclimates near your house, next to warm brick walls, where only the outside edge of a tropical shrub is damaged.
<figure id="attachment_2463" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2463" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/files/2023/01/Frost-Covered-Plant.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2463 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="frost protection in duval countylandscape" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/files/2023/01/Frost-Covered-Plant-300x200.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2463" class="wp-caption-text">Photo: c/o Subscription Service</figcaption></figure>
Frost Protection Weapons.
If you drive around town the morning after a frost or freeze, you will probably see what looks like people’s laundry on top of plants. A lot of people will just use old sheets and blankets to cover their tropical plants.  You can buy landscape frost blankets, though.  Ideally the fabric should be held above the plant by a frame of wire or bent plastic pipe.  It should go all the way to the ground to trap heat under the cover.  Use bricks or landscape pins to hold it down.  Place the cover over the plant before dark and remove it by midmorning.  Don’t use plastic covers.  Foliage touching the cold plastic will be damaged and if you forget to remove the plastic in the morning, the sun will cook the plants underneath.
Frost Dates for Jacksonville.
Our median first freeze of 32 degrees is Nov. 21 or later.  We can get hard freezes on occasion.  A hard freeze is four consecutive hours of air temperatures that are below 28 degrees.  We don’t get hard freezes very often, but when one is predicted, you may want to add a source of heat under the cover. An old incandescent light bulb will add a little warmth. Be careful that it doesn’t touch anything that could catch fire.
Water Ahead Not On the Day.
Moist soil also holds more heat.  Water the soil a day or two before the forecast freeze.  Do not use sprinklers running overnight during a freeze. The ice will damage your plants.  Commercial growers know how to control the sprinklers during a freeze.
Citrus.
If a hard freeze is predicted, you may want to protect the graft union of citrus trees, by piling clean builder’s sand above the graft. Pipe insulation on the trunks of small trees is another option. Remember to remove this protection when the weather warms up.
Established citrus trees can withstand light freezes with no problems. Their fruit gets sweeter with cool weather.  The fruit keeps better on the tree, so don’t pick unless a hard freeze is predicted.  Otherwise just pick the fruit as you use it.
Tropicals.
Many of our tropical plants will act like herbaceous perennials when frozen.  Since our ground doesn’t freeze, their roots and sometimes their lower stems don’t freeze.  If your tropical plants do freeze, don’t remove the frozen leaves and stems before spring.  The dead stems and foliage will protect lower portions of the plant.  Consider dry pine needles piled up among the lower stems to protect a tropical plant.
Some plants are annuals, like marigolds and warm weather vegetables, and are not worth protecting.  They are already in decline with the cool weather.  Plants like crinum lilies, gingers and cannas have tuberous roots and bulbs that will survive our cold spells. You can remove damaged foliage of these and lightly mulch the soil.  If you don’t want to have to cover tropical plants for a freeze, plant native plants or hardy plants in your landscape.
_________________________
This article was written by Master Gardener Brenda Daly and first appeared in the Florida Times Union.

Photo: c/o Subscription Service
With three days of hard freeze already this winter and another weekend of freezing temps ahead, our gardens need us to brush up on frost protection.
When does frost occur?
Frost, which is a layer of ice crystals, is formed when water vapor on a plant condenses and freezes without first becoming dew. The temperature does not have to go to freezing or below for frost to occur.  Frost can occur when the temperature is 36 degrees or below and wind and sky cover is favorable. Clear skies and a calm wind plus a temperature at 36 degrees or below contribute to the formation of frost.
Dew point also enters into consideration.  The easiest way to tell if we are going to have frost or a freeze is to watch local news/weather forecasts.  Our local meteorologists are very good about giving frost or freeze warnings.  I recommend watching rather than listening to a local forecast, because area weather maps are shown.  Frequently the area near the river and ocean are warmer than the official Jacksonville airport forecast.  Sometimes there is no frost or freeze east of the river.
Microclimates: It could be different at your house.
Another thing to consider is microclimates, especially in Duval County where there is such variety in home sites.  Land near the ocean and river or other large bodies of water can moderate the temperature as the water is warmer than the air temperature.  Most of our area is pretty flat, but cool air settles in low spots of the landscape.  Frost protection becomes critical further inland and in lower lying areas.
Trees Help. Again.
Tree coverage also prevents frost from settling on plants below them.  That’s why you will frequently see tropical plants below a live oak undamaged by frost.  The tree coverage reflects heat rising from the soil back down.  There have been maps with a frost-free circle in downtown Jacksonville!  All that concrete absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night. It might not feel warmer to you, though, as wind blows between tall buildings, but those plants need less frost protection.
Study your landscape for these microclimates.  Potted plants placed in front of your sliding glass doors under a porch overhang, may be protected enough.  Evergreen trees, like live oaks and southern magnolias may protect the plants below them.  Master gardens often claim their succulents in pots below a sabal palm have not succumbed to frost or freeze damage.  (This is a medium height properly pruned palm with more than a full half circle of foliage.) There are microclimates near your house, next to warm brick walls, where only the outside edge of a tropical shrub is damaged.
Photo: c/o Subscription Service
Frost Protection Weapons.
If you drive around town the morning after a frost or freeze, you will probably see what looks like people’s laundry on top of plants. A lot of people will just use old sheets and blankets to cover their tropical plants.  You can buy landscape frost blankets, though.  Ideally the fabric should be held above the plant by a frame of wire or bent plastic pipe.  It should go all the way to the ground to trap heat under the cover.  Use bricks or landscape pins to hold it down.  Place the cover over the plant before dark and remove it by midmorning.  Don’t use plastic covers.  Foliage touching the cold plastic will be damaged and if you forget to remove the plastic in the morning, the sun will cook the plants underneath.
Frost Dates for Jacksonville.
Our median first freeze of 32 degrees is Nov. 21 or later.  We can get hard freezes on occasion.  A hard freeze is four consecutive hours of air temperatures that are below 28 degrees.  We don’t get hard freezes very often, but when one is predicted, you may want to add a source of heat under the cover. An old incandescent light bulb will add a little warmth. Be careful that it doesn’t touch anything that could catch fire.
Water Ahead Not On the Day.
Moist soil also holds more heat.  Water the soil a day or two before the forecast freeze.  Do not use sprinklers running overnight during a freeze. The ice will damage your plants.  Commercial growers know how to control the sprinklers during a freeze.
Citrus.
If a hard freeze is predicted, you may want to protect the graft union of citrus trees, by piling clean builder’s sand above the graft. Pipe insulation on the trunks of small trees is another option. Remember to remove this protection when the weather warms up.
Established citrus trees can withstand light freezes with no problems. Their fruit gets sweeter with cool weather.  The fruit keeps better on the tree, so don’t pick unless a hard freeze is predicted.  Otherwise just pick the fruit as you use it.
Tropicals.
Many of our tropical plants will act like herbaceous perennials when frozen.  Since our ground doesn’t freeze, their roots and sometimes their lower stems don’t freeze.  If your tropical plants do freeze, don’t remove the frozen leaves and stems before spring.  The dead stems and foliage will protect lower portions of the plant.  Consider dry pine needles piled up among the lower stems to protect a tropical plant.
Some plants are annuals, like marigolds and warm weather vegetables, and are not worth protecting.  They are already in decline with the cool weather.  Plants like crinum lilies, gingers and cannas have tuberous roots and bulbs that will survive our cold spells. You can remove damaged foliage of these and lightly mulch the soil.  If you don’t want to have to cover tropical plants for a freeze, plant native plants or hardy plants in your landscape.
_________________________
This article was written by Master Gardener Brenda Daly and first appeared in the Florida Times Union.

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