Freezing temperatures and precipitation are due to enter the local area at the end of this week.
Texas A&M AgriLife and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences experts offer practical, researchinformed guidance to protect livestock, plants, pipes and pets during winter cold snaps.
Livestock
Texas livestock owners 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.
Plants
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 coldsensitive 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.
Pipes
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.
Pets
Texas A&M veterinary experts urge Texans to bring pets indoors during freezing weather.
When outdoor time is unavoidable, pets need wellinsulated shelters just large enough to trap body heat, said Lori Teller, a clinical professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Pet homes with rigid foam insulation and elevated floors — filled with deep straw bedding — help keep pets warm. Avoid using blankets and towels because they retain moisture.
Teller said pets most vulnerable to cold include those that are short-coated, small, underweight, elderly or very young. She recommends using sweaters or jackets to help thincoated pets retain heat. These pets should spend minimal time outside during freezing temperatures.
Signs of hypothermia include shivering, pale gums, reluctance to walk and collapsing.
Salt and chemical deicers can irritate or poison pets. If pets are exposed to these products, owners should wash the paws with warm water and mild shampoo after outdoor exposure, Teller said. She recommends using paw balm and booties for added protection.
If multi-day freezes are forecast, owners should bring pets indoors, stock food and medications, and prepare warm bedding in case of power outages or burst pipes. Texans should also review state and local laws such as the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, which sets minimum shelter standards during extreme weather.