Protecting Plants From Frost

Master Gardener Tom Mashour talks about how to protect your plants from frost. When the evening air is chilly, the sky is clear, and there is no wind there is a good chance for frost. The best way to handle frost is to make sure you plant your plants at the correct time.  The best way to protect plants both young and old from frost is to turn on the sprinkler. The water is warm – relatively speaking. The water running over and around the plants keeps them warm enough to prevent freezing. If the plants have already frosted do not try to thaw them by sprinkling, let them thaw in the air. If the plants are small you can cover them with plastic, fabric or even a milk jug with the bottom cut off. When covering try to keep the plant from touching the cover. The touching area will likely freeze. Another option is to turn on a fan. The moving air will prevent frost from forming. It does not warm up the air – it will still freeze – but the cold by itself will do less damage than cold and frost.

March 11, 2017

Related Resources:
Frost Protection
Protecting Landscape and Garden Plants During Cold Snaps
How to protect plants from frost