The National Weather Service has predicted a widespread frost this weekend. Don’t let the frigid temperatures ruin your plants. Check out these plant protection tips.
1. Water the soil thoroughly (except around succulents). Wet soil holds heat better than dry soil, protecting roots and warming air near the soil.
2. Bedsheets, drop cloths, blankets and plastic sheets make suitable covers for vulnerable plants. Use stakes to keep material, especially plastic, from touching foliage.
3. Remove the coverings when temperatures rise the next day.
4. For a short cold period, low plantings can be covered with mulch, such as straw or leaf mold. Remove once the danger of frost has passed.
5. Place a 100-watt lamp designed for outdoor use in the interior of a small tree. It can emit enough warmth to reduce frost damage. Holiday lights (not the LED type) serve a similar function, but be sure they don’t touch any covering materials.
6. Spray an anti-transpirant, available at your local nursery, on the foliage of cold-sensitive plants to seal in moisture. One application can protect up to three months by coating the leaves with an invisible polymer film.
7. Cluster container plants close together and, if possible, in a sheltered spot close to the house.
For complete up-to-date weather information visit our Weather page.
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