Take care of people, pets and plants when the temperature starts dropping

Keeping an eye on the thermometer

2009 was a very warm year here on Amelia Island with temperatures rushing into the 90‚Äôs early in the year and refusing to go away when old man fall entered the picture.¬† Like the preceding ten months our Halloween and most of November kept us all in shorts with the A/C’s still pumping.¬† As early as last week we experienced temperatures in the high 80‚Äôs and with the humidity it felt more like the low 90‚Äôs, making us believe the cooler temperatures would never make it.¬† Well this has all changed this past week with more seasonably expected weather and temperatures.¬†¬†Much like many season changes in the past it has crept up on us and now has the appearance its here to stay a while.

For the past few days our nights have been as low as 42 here on the island with day time temps still reaching the low 60‚Äôs.¬† It‚Äôs not officially the winter season yet but it is surely on the way.¬† This is a perfect time to remember the really important stuff that requires action before we get to the really cold stuff that‚Äôs just on the horizon.¬† The items I‚Äôm speaking of are pets, people and plants or also known as the three P‚Äôs (actually there are four).¬† Most of us have animals, and some¬†may live outdoors year round. ¬†If this is the case at your home consider the following;¬†first make sure outside pets have a place to get out of the elements such as a shed, dog house or garage. Make sure they have some protection to lie on protecting them from a cold floor; a blanket would do fine.¬† On the really cold nights a drop cord with a flood light or 100 watt bulb placed near their sleeping quarters will provide more than enough heat to keep them comfortable.

Regarding your outdoor plants several things can be done here.¬† If your plants are all in pots that are mobile gather them up and place them inside during the anticipated freezes or days of extra cold weather.¬† This can be done by simply getting them in a garage (with our without the dog present), a spare bedroom or even under a carport as long as they are covered with blankets and kept close together.¬† For the larger ‚Äúin-ground‚Äù plants drape them with sheets to help reduce frost and keep in as much heat as possible. your drapery should reach the earth and be held down with bricks, sticks or rocks. The warmth of the earth will keep the plants warm enough during these times.¬† Also, try not to use a plastic, if you must, make sure it is removed before the warmth of the sun cooks your precious foliage. One more point I should mention, do not run your sprinklers on nights of freezing temperatures, this will surely result in dead plants and a mess to clean up after the freeze is over.

Next are people, especially the elderly. Keep an eye on your relatives and neighbors and make sure they have heat in their homes. Many lives are lost in the winter months due to faulty or misused space heaters.

Pipes are not generally a problem on Amelia Island, but inland any pipes that are exposed to the open elements could be at risk on a night below freezing. ¬†This includes water, sprinkler or A/C drain pipes that need additional protection to keep from freezing.¬† Rubber/Styrofoam insulation can be purchased at any home improvement store and can be cut to fit your needs.¬† Black electrical tape or small wire ties work best when securing them to the pipe and best of all this insulation can be left on year after year minimizing your efforts during the next cold weather season.¬† Take time now to get your game plan in order while its still comfortable outdoors, it will make the first cold snap easier and less stressful on you and your family.

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