How to Protect Plants When Jack Frost Makes a Surprise Visit
By Kaw Valley Greenhouses, Inc.
The key to frost protection for plants is staying alert and preparing for it to arrive!
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Seriously, frost has no chill! Winter, spring, or fall, a freak frost can sneak up at any time, freezing your precious plants. If the forecast calls for frost, you may need to jump into action so that your garden doesn’t freeze overnight. Learn how to protect your plants from frost with these simple protective measures. Trust us, there are few experiences more disheartening than waking up to freezing temperatures and a dead garden!
The Best Methods of Frost Protection for Plants
There are several different kinds of frost protection for your garden because there are many diverse plants with different needs. A garden bed full of vegetables will need a different kind of frost protection than a fruit tree sapling or containers full of delicate annuals like petunias. When you’re figuring out how to protect your plants from frost, it’s important to consider their size, how fragile they are, and where they are located. These four methods can all effectively prevent cold weather damage when used properly. It’s good to have the necessary supplies on hand so you can protect your plants quickly before the freezing temperatures set in!
Cover Your Plants
Using a fabric cover or plastic barrier can prevent frost, block harsh, cold winds, and keep your plants warmer overnight. You can cover your crops with something as simple as a bed sheet or landscape fabric if you have a large garden. If you have tiny seedlings or delicate transplants, you can cut the bottoms off of pop bottles or milk jugs and stick them in the soil spout-side-up to protect individual plants like a small greenhouse. Remove them once the temperature rises though.
Move Planters to The Garage
If they’re light enough to lift, move your outdoor containers into the garage. If you don’t have a garage, or if it’s super cold in there, move them to a bright room inside during the cold snap. You will want to move them outside again once the freezing temperatures are over since most plants will get lanky and or yellow indoors without wind or ample sunshine.
Spread Some Mulch
Gardens can’t wear winter parkas, but mulch offers the same kind of weather protection! It’s a great long-term option to protect your plants from frost, and you’ll love how it helps insulate tender perennial plants over the winter when it’s super cold. Spread an even layer of natural mulch, such as shredded bark, all across the soil surface, and avoid piling it up around the base of your plants.
Water While It's Still Warm
Moist soil holds onto warmth better than dry soil! Try your best to water before the temperature starts to dip. Ideally, you’ll want to water early in the morning because the sun heats the soil and evaporates moisture more quickly during the day. By watering earlier, your plant will have access to more moisture for longer, further helping to protect it from frost. It’s much easier to protect your plants from frost if you have the necessary supplies for all the different things growing in your garden. The faster you can spring into action, the less cold damage your garden will experience.
It’s much easier to protect your plants from frost if you have the necessary supplies for all the different things growing in your garden. The faster you can spring into action, the less cold damage your garden will experience. Now that you have a plan for when the weather turns, start this spring by visiting one of our Kaw Valley locations for the toughest plants around!
Need some advice on how to start a beautiful garden? Sign up for our email newsletter, and receive free gardening articles, resources, and container designs to your inbox.