Spring officially begins this month! Everyone is looking forward to warmer temps and much drier weather. Yet, as we all know in Alabama, nothing is consistent, especially the weather. 
Unfortunately, freezing wind and rain are still a possibility here. 

So, here are a few ways to protect your livestock and plants during the somewhat unstable weather transition between winter and spring:

Livestock
1) Livestock have a hair coat that protects them in dry cold, much like a thermal blanket. However, when freezing rain comes and the coat gets matted down with water and mud, the coat can no longer trap heat against the skin to keep the animal warm. To keep warm, livestock will burn off much needed calories and consequently lose weight.

2) Excess mud poses another more serious threat to livestock: hoof rot or foot rot. Livestock congregating in muddy areas for long periods of time are prone to developing hoof rot. It is a painfully infectious disease that will literally rot away the animal's foot. The infection is curable, but if not treated it can affect the entire herd.

Protecting livestock from continuous exposure to mud-prone areas can be done by moving them to drier grounds or developing a sacrifice or wintering lot which is graded to filter excess water out. 

3) Providing shelter during winter rains and ensuring that animals are not congregating in mud, not only helps to keep them dry, but also healthy. If livestock are kept in a barn, be sure to have good ventilation to filter excess ammonia in the air. 

4) Since spring is associated with birth, keeping an eye on baby animals is important, too. Their bodies do not contain the fat needed for protection against the cold, so extra care must be given to keep them warm and dry. 

5) Lastly, moist, cool air combined with warming daytime temps lead to a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites. Check hay for mold and ensure that livestock are receiving good nutrients, any necessary preventive vaccinations and de-worming medications.   

Plants
Plants, like livestock, are susceptible to health issues as a result of cold weather fluctuations. Budding spring plants hit with a frost may have a hard time rebounding as the weather warms up. Protect early blooming plants when threats of frost are eminent with these steps:

1) Plant specific varieties that are zoned for your area. They will be the most weather-tolerant.

2) Bring recently potted plants inside enclosed areas to protect them from wind chill. 

3) Cover newly sprouted flowering plants and bushes before sunset with gardener's burlap or sheets, not plastic to protect tender leaves and flowers. Only use plastic when it's installed on a frame and not touching plants directly.

4) Continue to keep plants well mulched to ward off freezing temps, especially roses and strawberries. Be sure plants are watered before threat of frost, if the ground is not already wet from rain. The wet soil prevents freeze injury to roots because it holds more heat.

5) If soil is excessively wet from too much rain, hold off spring planting until soil is drier to prevent disease. Plants in water-filled soil can experience root rot, a fungal infection that can be fatal to plants. To avoid having a consistently soggy garden, plant in raised gardens at least six inches above the ground.

6) Broken tree limbs from freeze or frost should be pruned with sharp tools. However, limbs that are bent from winter winds may straighten out on their own. Don't be too quick to prune them. 

7) If heavy rains are predicted, hold off applying fertilizer so it doesn't leach off during rainfall.

Taking steps now to protect your livestock and plants from threats of freezing winds and rain will make them healthier, happier and more productive in the long run.