Freeze-Damaged Vegetation in Brevard Likely to Recover

Published on February 20, 2026

From Brevard County:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 19, 2026 2:21 PM

Freeze-Damaged Vegetation in Brevard Likely to Recover

BREVARD COUNTY, FL. -- Recent cold temperatures may have caused visible damage to landscapes across Brevard County, but experts say residents should not panic. Many of Brevard’s native plants are well adapted to withstand periods of cold weather and are unlikely to have been killed to the ground. Homeowners are encouraged to take a patient approach before trimming or removing vegetation. Sally Scalera of the University of Florida IFAS Extension Brevard County indicates that leaf shedding is a good sign. It often means the plant is protecting itself and responding naturally to stress.

Residents are advised to:

• Allow trees and shrubs time to recover before pruning.
• Wait until at least mid-March before trimming damaged vegetation.
• Delay pruning further if another freeze is forecast and wait until all risk of freezing temperatures has passed.

For additional guidance on best post-freeze pruning practices, please contact Sally Scalera at sasc@ufl.edu or (321) 633-1702.

Special Guidance for Atlantic Dune Properties

Property owners with freeze-damaged sea grapes or other dune vegetation along the Atlantic coastline should exercise additional caution:

• Before trimming sea grapes or other dune vegetation, property owners must contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to schedule a required field inspection. FDEP representative Melanie Cain can be reached at melanie.cain@floridadep.gov or (386) 895-1958.
• Dune vegetation may appear sparser following a freeze, increasing the importance of proper upland lighting management as sea turtle nesting season begins March 1. Residents are reminded to ensure that artificial lighting is not visible from the beach, as lights can disorient nesting sea turtles and hatchlings, placing them in danger.