With the cold weather coming through in Texas, nobody knows what to do with their cars or plants because Texas never has cold weather. Normally in a Texas winter gets down to at least low 40’s, but rarely ever down into the low or mid 30’s.

Most of the time in Texas, there is just a light frost which doesn’t last too long, so because it doesn’t last long you can put some kind of tarp over your plants to keep them warm and keep them from freezing. An old pillowcase or towels can be used as a tarp for your plants. On the off chance there is snow, plants need to be covered with something that won’t let snow or melted snow get in, so a plastic bin or a plastic milk jug with the bottom cut off for individual plants will work. Iyanna Kennedy says, “With the winter in Texas right now, we know how to properly take care of our outdoor plants by covering them up as much as possible and giving water and nutrients to them as well.” Which is the right thing to do, a simple tarp is good for frosty weather, but some form of plastic is needed for snowy weather.

Cars can also be affected, not all the time by just the cold, in fact, cold is actually better for the car, but cars are affected by the snow and ice. Some parts of North Texas did get snow on Sunday, January 10th, and because this is a rare occasion, Texans don’t know how to protect their cars for snow. CSC Insurance says you need to let your engine warm up for 2-3 minutes and let the oil move through the engine, put on winter tires, check tire pressure, check your battery, have an emergency kit, and fuel your car regularly. Marcos Bell says he will “prepare my car for the winter season by putting new winter tires on to help prevent sliding on ice IF there is ice, I will also make sure the heater in my car is functions properly.” Which is a good thing to do, because that is what you’re supposed to do!

If there happens to be snow that actually sticks to the ground, which is very unlikely in South Texas, a car cover is also very useful. Not only does a car cover protect from dust and dirt, but it can also protect your car from snow. According to CarCovers.com, “A car cover is one of the single best things you can do for your vehicle during the winter weather season” because it doesn’t only protect your car from snow, but also theft.

During the winter season, even Texans should prepare for the cold weather by covering their plants, check your car, and invest in a car cover as it is useful for all seasons.