Applying rationale to gardening in the cold weather, and making sense of it all!
With the recent, albeit minimal, snowfall across metro Atlanta and north Georgia, this question was top of mind to me as I prepared for a recent show. The answer comes from our friend Walter Reeves:
“Because most plants wilt, some a lot and some just a little, before a freeze to protect themselves from cold damage. It’s important that the roots have water around them after the freeze to send to the dried leaves.
“Pansies are famous for wilting during a freeze. The leaves look awful the morning after temperatures have been lower than 32°. But given a bit of sun AND water around the roots, the plants will recover by noon. Watering also helps the soil stay warmer. A dense material (like the soil) can store and release heat better than loose, dry soil.”