What Happens to Your Lawn and Landscape During a North Texas Ice Storm

What Happens to Your Lawn and Landscape During a North Texas Ice Storm

The North Texas climate delivers two distinct types of winter damage events: hard freeze events — sustained below-freezing temperatures that damage plant tissue as described in the freeze damage blog — and ice storms — freezing rain and sleet events that coat surfaces, plants, and structures in a layer of ice that creates a different and in some ways more physically damaging set of problems.

The 2023 and 2024 winter seasons both produced significant North Texas ice events, and the 2021 winter storm included both sustained extreme cold and significant ice accumulation. For homeowners who experienced these events and for those who want to understand what to expect and how to manage them, this blog covers the specific damage mechanisms of ice events and how professional service responds.

How Ice Accumulation Damages Plants

Ice damage is primarily physical rather than cellular — the weight of accumulated ice on plant branches, stems, and foliage creates mechanical stress that can break branches, split multi-stemmed plants at their crown, and permanently deform the structural form of hedges and ornamental plants.

Branch breakage under ice load. The weight of ice accumulation on plant foliage and branch structure is substantial. A single inch of ice accumulation on a mature shrub can add tens of pounds to the plant's weight load. Branches that are sized for the plant's normal weight — and that are positioned at angles that efficiently bear that normal weight — may not be sized or positioned to bear the additional ice load. Branch failures under ice accumulation are among the most common and most visually significant ice damage results in North Texas residential landscapes.

Foundation plant deformation. Foundation plants — Loropetalum, Indian Hawthorn, Nandina — that have multiple upright stems typically spread open under ice accumulation, as the weight of ice on each stem pushes it outward from the central crown. Plants that held their compact, upright form before the ice event may be splayed open in a permanent-appearing form after the ice melts. In many cases, this deformation is temporary — the plant recovers its natural form as the ice melts and the stems return to their previous positions. In cases where branch tissues were stressed or cracked by the forced open position, permanent deformation may remain.

Ornamental grass matting. Fine-bladed ornamental grasses — Gulf Muhly, Mexican Feather Grass — may mat flat under ice accumulation, pressed against the soil surface under the weight. This matting is typically temporary, with the grass recovering its upright position as temperatures warm and the ice melts, though the dried, matted appearance during the ice event can be alarming to homeowners who are not familiar with the temporary nature of this response.

What to Do and Not Do During an Active Ice Event

Do not shake ice from plants during the event. The instinct to knock ice off leaning or deforming plants is understandable but counterproductive. The branch tissues that are currently bending under ice load are cold, stressed, and less flexible than in normal conditions. Mechanical force applied to ice-covered branches — shaking, knocking, or brushing — can break the already-stressed tissue rather than relieving the load safely. Allow the ice to melt naturally.

Do not walk on frozen grass. Frozen grass blades are brittle — the ice crystals in the cells reduce the flexibility that would otherwise prevent breakage. Foot traffic on frozen grass breaks the frozen blades at the crown level, creating specific damage spots that do not recover until new growth emerges. Stay off the lawn surface until it has fully thawed.

Do tie or support plants that are severely deformed. For plants that are spreading to the point where structural integrity is at risk — stems spreading so far that the crown may split — gently gathering stems together and tying them loosely with soft material (frost cloth strips, flexible plant ties) during the event can prevent the crown damage that a fully split multi-stem crown would require significant recovery time to address.

After the Ice: Assessment and Recovery

Most ice damage to well-adapted North Texas plants is less severe than it appears during the event. The priority after ice melts and temperatures have safely returned above freezing is honest assessment:

Remove broken branches cleanly. Any branches that broke under ice load should be removed with a clean cut at the appropriate pruning point — not left hanging or partially attached, which creates disease entry points and ongoing mechanical stress. The cut should be at the branch collar or at the next healthy lateral branch.

Assess permanent deformation. Plants that were splayed open by ice load but that have returned to their natural form after melting are not damaged — they responded to the load and recovered. Plants that remain deformed after melting may have experienced structural damage that warrants follow-up observation through the growing season.

Wait before removing apparently damaged plants. As with hard freeze events, the patience recommendation applies to ice events. Wait through the spring green-up period before deciding that a plant is permanently damaged. Many plants that appear severely damaged immediately after an ice event push vigorous new growth from surviving tissue as temperatures warm.

Lone Star Mow Co assesses properties after significant ice events as part of the professional service relationship — identifying specific damage, removing broken material, and communicating with clients about what requires immediate attention versus what should be monitored through the recovery period.

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