Because we just experienced a light freeze in southeast Louisiana, it’s time to talk about cold protection for tropicals in our landscapes. Fortunately, in most areas, freeze damage has been light or did not occur. The early cold weather doesn’t necessarily portend severe freezes this winter, but it does mean it’s time to get prepared for the coming cold. There is an upside to this cold weather. Temperatures in the 30s help to “harden off” landscape plants. Harden off is a gardening term used to describe how plants become more tolerant of adverse conditions when gradually exposed to them. Cold-hardy landscape plants can tolerate severe freezes better if they have…