HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – With the cold weather approaching us, bundling up may be on your mind. Plans for protecting your plants should be too.

Throwing an old sheet to cover your flowers might be your go-to move, but Little Red Wagon Native Nursery owner Anita Camacho said there’s a better option.

“Sheets can be a little heavy on the plants, and if they get wet that makes them even heavier, so they absorb a lot of water,” Camacho said. “Whereas frost cloth is another thing that we like to use if it’s a plant that does need to be protected and it’s a lot lighter.”

Another easy tip is the day before the cold comes in, water your plants at their roots avoiding the foliage. This mimics how nature prepares for harsh temperatures too.

“Just water the ground really well. It gets the roots fattened up and it helps the plants get through the cold,” Camacho added. “Mother Nature kind of does that in many cases. We’ll get the rain ahead of the cold, but if you don’t get the rain you definitely want to water the ground.”

Part of Anita’s mission at the nursery is to help spread awareness by literally planting the seeds of Florida natives. She said teaching others to consider these options is not only better for our ecosystem, but they are resilient to Florida winters.

“The Florida natives really can handle everything Florida throws at it, from Hurricanes to cold weather to heat. So these natives will do very well through the winter. A lot of them will keep blooming,” Camacho said.

Of course, the most obvious fail-proof tip of all— if you have plants that can be moved, bring them inside, just as you would a pet.

“If they’re in pots yes certainly bring them inside, that’s a lot easier. Put them inside your garage or something overnight. That can help, too,” Camacho said.

Following those simple tips can make a big difference in keeping your plants alive through the winter and your thumb green right into spring.

You can learn more about Florida natives here.