Preparing Citrus Groves for Cold Fronts

By Muhammad A. Shahid, Shahid Iqbal and Davie Kadyampakeni

As temperatures begin to drop across citrus-growing regions, now is the time for growers to prepare their groves for potential freeze events. Citrus trees, especially young plantings, are susceptible to cold temperatures. Damage from a single freeze event can result in canopy dieback, fruit loss and even tree death.

Proper planning and timely actions can significantly reduce freeze injury and ensure a quick recovery in the spring. Following are grove monitoring and management strategies to help minimize freeze damage.

• Apply irrigation at least 24 hours before a forecasted freeze event (below 32 degrees) to moisten the soil. Moist soil absorbs more solar heat during the day and releases it slowly at night, helping to maintain slightly warmer temperatures around the root zone and canopy.
• Inspect all components of your irrigation setup, including pumps, valves and microsprinklers, to ensure they are in good working condition. Proper system function is essential for uniform water distribution during freeze protection.
• Ensure microsprinklers are correctly positioned to get the water on lower trunks and graft unions, particularly on young trees where these areas are most susceptible to freezing injury. Because all blocks may need to be irrigated simultaneously during the freeze, confirm that your well has sufficient capacity to supply the required water volume and pressure.
• Check pump capacity to deliver at least 12 gallons per hour of water to ensure adequate freeze protection throughout the grove.
• Begin irrigation when the air temperature drops below 34 degrees and continue until temperatures rise above freezing. Continuous water application is critical. Intermediate stopping can cause evaporative cooling, which may increase freeze injury.
• Avoid pruning during the freeze season. A dense canopy provides better protection and reduces exposure of inner branches and fruit to cold air.
• If possible, use mulch around the base of trees to help insulate the root zone and maintain more stable soil temperatures during cold nights.
• Use tree wraps, foam sleeves or other protective coverings on young citrus trees to safeguard the trunk and graft union from freeze damage.
• Avoid applying nitrogen fertilizer during winter (October–February particularly in North Florida). Nitrogen promotes new growth that is highly susceptible to freezing temperatures and can increase tree injury.

In conclusion, freeze injury remains one of the most significant risks for Florida’s citrus industry. However, with careful monitoring, preparation and timely response, growers can protect their groves and ensure strong recovery. A few degrees and a few smart management decisions can mean the difference between significant loss and a resilient grove.

Muhammad A. Shahid is an assistant professor, and Shahid Iqbal is a postdoc scholar, both at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy. Davie Kadyampakeni is an associate professor at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.