LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Many Kentuckians are noticing their shrubs are looking dried out and brown this spring. If that's the case at your home, your green thumb isn't wearing out. It's due to the cold snap the Commonwealth experienced in December.

Antony Goetzinger, the owner of Earl Thieneman Garden Center in Louisville, said the freeze accompanied by the 40-50 mph winds is what caused the problems. 

As you’ll recall, that cold snap brought wind chills below zero. It was the coldest wind chills the state has experienced in 25 years.

“Louisville is in a zone six and it got colder than a zone six. A lot of the plants that would usually be hearty here simply couldn’t take that weather,” said Goetzinger.

While this happened in December, many are just now starting to see the impacts. Goetzinger said that is because the plants often hold onto their color for a while. However, once they break dormancy and start sending energy up to the stems, they brown out and die. That is why many are noticing this now that spring is here.

He said he understands why people may be frustrated about this.

“Landscape is a huge investment. The cold snap didn’t discriminate. It killed the plants around my house too. But everybody is pretty accepting to what happened,” said Goetzinger. 

As for what to do if you have this problem at your house, Goetzinger said it depends on if you have more time or more money. A wait and see approach is often best for winter-injured plants. If you can be patient, let the plants wake up on their own. If you see signs of improvement, then you could fertilize at that point. 

If you are, for example, hosting a Derby party soon and want your landscape looking nice for it, now would be a good time to replant.