Q: I have a three-year-old windmill palm near our pool. It has been growing great, but during our very cold snap I draped it with a tarp for a day. When I removed the tarp, the fronds were brown and brittle.

A: Established windmill palms can withstand temperatures a bit below ten degrees Fahrenheit but age can be a factor in tenderness.

Although I would have expected yours to come through the recent cold weather (6 degrees in 2014) with no problem, the brown fronds are certainly not a good sign. Wait until late April to make a final decision.