How to Protect Your Garden From Frost
Most plants do not do well during the cold season. When the temperatures get too low, it is likely to cause freeze or frost, thus damaging plants. For those with vegetation, frost can be a major concern. It is paramount to put preventive measures in place to reduce the severity of the frost damage.
It is best to understand frost prevention to ensure you manage the garden. Here are some frost prevention tips to note.
Below, to help you preserve the well-being of your plants during the Autumn and Winter months, we will give you a series of essential tips on how to take care of your garden and ensure that it arrives the following Spring in perfect condition.
Take note!
Plant Selection
In case you live in regions prone to cold, you have to thoughtfully pick the plants you will grow in your garden for with harsh Winter temperatures in mind. Plants can be classified according to the lowest temperature they can tolerate.
Hardy plants – Theses are the plants that have a high tolerance to the level of freezing. However, if the freezing is prolonged, then the plant will may not thrive.
Tender plants – These are the types of plants that have a low tolerance to cold. When they freeze, the plant will be injured or killed.
When selecting plants for your garden, talk to an expert to learn of species’ hardiness. The information will help you choose the right plants for your garden and ensure little to no plant loss in the coldest of months.
Site Selection
Once you have chosen some hardy plants, the next step is choosing an ideal site. The most tender plants should not be left in a wide open space or in lower regions where cold air settles. It is best to plant such vegetation near a wall. The wall will absorb heat when it is warm and radiate it when the air freezes.
For highly sensitive plants like succulents, you might have to plant them in a pot. That will help you move them to a warm area when the temperature drops.
Frost Prevention Measures
Don’t Forget to Water Consistently
It is best to keep the soil watered as wet soil holds heat better than dry. Thus, it will protect the roots and ensure the air around the ground is warm. If watering in the Winter becomes a hassle, feel free to reach out to our sprinkler repair and installation experts to help install an automated drip irrigation system. We’re always professional, arrive on time and are respectful.
Cover Your Plants When Frigid Air is Forecasted
If you have clothes, sheets, blankest, or plastic, use them to make covers for the tender plants when you’re experiencing a cold front. However, you need to ensure the air can circulate through the coverings. Use stakes to keep the material from touching the foliage. When temperatures rise, remove the covering. Burlap sacks tend to be the most popular, but many other materials will help.
If the cold season is short, you can use mulch and straws to cover the low plants. Once the cold passes, remove the protection.
Use Antitranspirant On Tender Plants
Another option you can use is to spray the plant with an anti-transpirant. If you do not have one, you can purchase it at your local nursery or Home Depot. Spray the product on the foliage of the tender plants. The seal will help in keeping in moisture. If applied well, it can protect the vegetation from frost damage.
Try Not to Overreact
If you are seeing signs of frost, do not prune the affected parts immediately. Let the cold season pass before you start pruning. In warm weather, you might see new leaves sprouting. It is also possible to see new growth at the plant base. The right time for you to prune out the damaged part is when the temperatures are warm. If the plant is dead, you will have to remove it.
If you selected appropriate, hardy plants for your garden, you shouldn’t have much to worry about. Especially if you take some of the frost prevention steps above.
Now that you have all the tips necessary to protect your landscape from frost issues, you should see a strong, beautiful garden when Spring arrives!