Protect Livestock, Plants, Pipes And Pets From Winter Weather

KARN DHINGRA

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

Freezing temperatures eventually reach every corner of Texas, due to the state’s famously unpredictable winter weather. With advance preparation, Texans can reduce damage to their homes and landscapes while keeping animals safe when temperatures drop.to access to help prepare for any potentially severe winter weather events.

Texas A&M AgriLife and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences experts offer practical, research-informed guidance to protect livestock, plants, pipes and pets during winter cold snaps.

Prepare to protect livestock 

Texas livestock owners face different winter challenges depending on their region, said Eric Kneese, DVM, clinical associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Texas Panhandle producers often face prolonged freezes and blizzards, while Central and East Texas operations cope with wet, cold conditions and wind chills. In South Texas, producers may deal with short but sharp temperature drops.

“Preparation looks different depending on location, but the principles are the same: reduce wind exposure, keep animals dry, ensure reliable water access and provide enough nutrition,” Kneese said.

Producers should utilize windbreaks such as tree lines, brush, natural terrain features, barns or temporary barriers such as tarps or plywood on windward sides of shelters. In addition, rolling out hay can help provide dry, insulated ground for livestock to rest. Healthy cattle tolerate cold well when they are dry and shielded from wind. Horses benefit from run-in sheds, covered areas or barn aisles.

Reliable water access becomes one of the biggest challenges during freezes. In the Panhandle, many producers rely on tank heaters to keep water from freezing during long cold spells. Farther south in Central Texas, owners may depend on insulated buckets or make twice-daily rounds to break ice by hand. In South Texas, where freezes are shorter but still damaging, producers focus on making sure automatic waterers continue flowing through sudden cold snaps.

Kneese encourages daily checks for frozen troughs and icy footing or declining body condition of livestock. Kneese said many owners underestimate the impact of brief cold snaps, especially when wind and wet conditions combine.

Water plants and protect tender species

From the subtropical Rio Grande Valley to the cold Panhandle, winter plant protection varies by region as well, said Mike Arnold, Ph.D.. However, watering thoroughly is always the first step. Arnold is a professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University.

“Well-watered plants survive freezes better than drought-stressed ones,” Arnold said. “Moist soil freezes more slowly, providing insulation during sudden temperature drops.”

Before a freeze, Arnold recommends homeowners:

• Drain irrigation systems, unhook hoses and cover hose bibs.
• Apply 2-to-3 inches of organic mulch to protect plant roots.
• Cover plants susceptible to damage from cold weather with frost cloths or blankets.
• Place old-style holiday lights beneath frost cloths for especially cold-sensitive plants such as citrus. Do not let the lights contact the frost cloths to avoid fire hazards.

Be sure to remove plant covers once temperatures rise above freezing to prevent overheating, Arnold said.

He also advises leaving dead growth on perennials, bananas, palms and many woody plants until late winter or early spring. Pruning too early can cause freeze damage.

“Be patient. Learn to love ugly,” he said.

 Winterize pipes and wells ahead of the first freeze

Pipe insulation is one of the most important – and often overlooked – winter tasks, said Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist and Texas Well Owner Network coordinator, Bryan-College Station.

“It’s always cheaper to prepare and prevent than to fix things,” Pigg said.

He encourages Texans to buy insulation materials early because pipe wrap and heat tape often sell out once freeze warnings are issued.

Northern regions need earlier preparation, but South Texas should also plan for the rare – yet still damaging – deep freezes.

Homeowners should:

• Insulate well houses, wrap pipes and position safe heat sources before cold weather arrives.
• Especially be sure to protect vulnerable pipes in attics or exterior walls.
• Shield pipes from direct wind, which accelerates freezing.

Pigg warned that a single overlooked line can burst and cause major damage. He recommends preparing in October or November and maintaining protections through March or April, since most Texas freezes hit between late January and February.   ∆

KARN DHINGRA

TEXAS AGRI LIFE