Cold weather tips | Minimize damage to your plants

A tip for home gardeners during this cold snap: Don't sweat it. Linda Chalker-Scott, associate professor with Washington State University's extension urban-horticulture office, is an expert in cold hardiness. She says most plants grown in Western Washington will survive a winter chill, especially if the low temperatures don't last too long.

Of course, much depends on location, how established a plant is and other factors, but there are several common-sense steps to take to minimize damage:

•If shrub or tree branches are heavy with snow, gently shake them to prevent breakage. Otherwise, leave the snow on plants for its insulating qualities.

•To protect tender plants exposed to chilling wind, erect a cage or semicircle barrier of chicken wire and burlap, perhaps stuffed with an organic mulch.

•Wrap the containers of potted plants with burlap, foam insulation or bubble wrap. Bunch together several containers, then wrap the entire group en masse for better heat retention.

•Don't worry if rhododendron leaves, and the leaves of some broadleaf evergreens such as viburnums, sag during cold weather. This winter wilt is a normal reaction to low temperatures; it's the way the plant reduces the leaf surface exposed to the cold.

•November's wet weather likely means soils are saturated, a good thing according to Chalker-Scott, because moist soil protects roots. And roots are the first thing to be injured by severe cold. But do not water plants now — especially don't dump hot water on plants.

Mary Rothschild is a former editor for The Seattle Times.