Have you ever stopped to marvel at some of the obstacles that mother nature manages to overcome year after year? Take the winter months for example: If you live in the New England area, or a region with a similar frigid winter climate, it really is a miracle that any plant life survives the season at all. If you’re interested in learning just how plants manage to make it through freezing temperatures and winter snowstorms, read on.

How do freezing temperatures affect plants?

In extreme temperatures, ice can crystallize on either the outside or inside of plant cells. This will inevitably freeze the plant’s water supply and prevent their cells’ inner workings from performing properly. Even if freezing does not occur, severe weather conditions can alter the plant’s makeup. This makes performing the necessary functions for it to sustain very difficult.

What defense do plants have against the cold?

Plants produce antifreeze proteins which help to prevent the formation of ice crystals outside of its cells. These proteins are generally built up within the cell walls to help create a barrier against freezing temperatures. To keep the insides of their cells from falling victim to icy conditions, plants produce dehydrins. These dehydrins work to strengthen the structure of its membranes. When temperatures are between 20-32°F, plants also have the ability to produce compounds which fight the freezing point of water. This makes it more challenging for ice to take hold.

We bet you didn’t realize that all of that was possible in such a small, seemingly fragile plant! The truth is, your plants work hard to help perpetuate a gorgeous landscape all year round, and you should too!

If you’re worried that you may not have the time to dedicate to such a large task, or are looking for a more effective way to maintain your landscape, you may want to consider leaving it up to the pros!

Turf Unlimited is a full-service lawn care provider, offering a wide variety of lawn care, fertilization, and pest and weed control services to the Massachusetts or New Hampshire area. For more information about our services call 888-649-9919 and schedule your free, in-home estimate today.