The Weather Bureau has issued a severe freeze warning, and the humidity is very low. Cold dry winds are very hard on new plants, so before the cold hits, give your new plants, especially your evergreens, a thorough watering if they haven't been watered very recently. Then drain and store your hose until the next warm spell. If you have newly planted evergreens in windy areas, wind protection with burlap or other fabric can prevent desiccation and damage.

Insulated faucet protectors are available to help keep faucets from freezing, but it's better to turn off the water to outdoor faucets unless you know you have frostproof faucets. Irrigation systems should be turned off and drained if a long period of cold is forecast. Your system may need to be "blown out" to avoid water freezing and breaking the pipes. At the least, turn off the automatic timer to prevent water from spraying, freezing and causing hazards on roads and walkways.

Don't miss my featured garden design in "Easy-Care Landscaping" on local news stands now!

"A garden, where one may enter in and forget the whole world, cannot be made in a week, nor a month, nor a year; it must be planned for, waited for and loved into being." -- Chinese Proverb

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