Spring is the time of year when most gardens open up with bold new colors. The flowers begin to bloom, leaving behind a colorful landscape to bring in the new season. Unfortunately, sporadic cold snaps can stress plants by placing their overall health and well-being in jeopardy.
If you don’t take the necessary precautions to ensure they are protected from these low temperatures, your garden’s plants could end up dying.
How are you supposed to keep your plants safe in the event of a sudden freeze? Keep reading and we’ll go over some simple and effective methods that any gardener can use.
Here in Central Texas we are just about done with freezing temperatures but it’s still possible for us to get a quick freeze.
If the temperatures are still “iffy” where you are, try to get into the habit of checking the weather on a daily basis. While meteorologists have been know to make mistakes in the past, they should still be able to give you a pretty good idea when sudden freezes will occur.
As a result, you’ll have extra time to prepare the plants in your garden to cope with these cold temperatures, and hopefully they will come out unharmed.
Use Additional Mulch
One of the best methods for protecting plants from frost damage is to give them additional mulch. If the weather shows a sudden cold snap coming in over the night, try padding your garden plants with extra mulch.
It will create better thermal resistance for your plants to fend off the freezing temperatures. You don’t have to use any special formula or mixture, as any type of thick, hearty mulch will suffice.
Just pick up a bag of basic gardening mulch from your local nursery and add a 3-4 inches around the base of your plants. This will primarily help protect the root system so if the foliage gets damaged by frost it can come back quickly once the weather turns warmer again.
Use a Fan
You might be surprised to learn that a basic fan can also help protect plants from frost damage. If you have a cordless fan, place it next to your weakest plants and leave it running on the lowest setting possible.
The constant flow of air it provides will blow away any lingering water that could lead to ice; thus, keeping your plants protected from frost. Just remember to avoid using fans with high settings, as too much air will have a negative effect rather than a positive one.
Use a Cold Frame
Yet another method for protecting plants from frost damage is to use a cold frame. Basically, these are small, boxed enclosures with a retractable glass roof. The glass roof acts as a natural greenhouse by capturing the sun’s warmth and trapping it inside for your plants to absorb.
If you believe a serious cold snap is approaching, try moving some of your plants into a cold frame. It’s a quick and easy way to keep them warm even when the temperatures have dropped outside.
Using some basic supplies and equipment, you can build your very own cold frame in your garden. All it takes is some lumber and a sheet of glass. If you are willing to get your hands dirty, take a visit to your local home improvement store to pick up these supplies.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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