A common problem gardeners face is not having enough light to develop a stocky transplant, especially in a window or inside a house. Provide full sunlight all day when the seed begin to germinate. If light is low, keep plants cooler and drier. Ornamentals Proper maintenance and care of ornamental trees and shrubs in our home landscapes during the late fall and winter help tremendously in reducing or eliminating damage from low temperatures. This winter damage is not only caused by cold but also can be caused by drying winds that lead to desiccation of plant tissue.
Desiccation is common on evergreen plants, but it can occur on deciduous plants as well.
If fall is dry, which is quite common in Louisiana, soil moisture may be insufficient to supply a plant's root system with needed water. Also, strong winds and sunny mild weather lead to desiccation of terminal growing tips. New growth stimulated by pruning or fertilization in the fall is more susceptible to freeze damage than older growth. The new growth has not 'hardened off' by winter's arrival, and ice crystals can form inside cells and between cell walls. Freeze damage is common on the southwest side of trees because afternoon sun is responsible for significant changes between day and night temperatures.