The temperature can drop at anytime, and during this time your plants need extra protection from the dangers of frost. Frost damage occurs as the moisture in the plant’s cells freeze, but you may not notice the problems until the temperature warms up. Then you will see drooping leaves on plants, and the foliage will turn brown while the plant is dying. Here are some tips to protect your plants.

Tip 1: Mulch around the Roots

Apply mulch around the roots of your plants to protect from frost. You can use decaying leaves, bark or composting materials as mulch. In the autumn, you can use the decaying leaves from your property’s trees as mulch. You can buy bags of mulch at gardening or home improvement stores, but you can also make your own compost. Remember that mulch tends to blow away, so make sure to reapply it occasionally.

Tip 2: Cover Plants with Fabric

You can cover the tops of the plant with fabrics such as:

• Burlap: a heavy and cheap fabric
• Bedding: save old bed linens to use over the plants
• Towels: place old bath towels over the plants
• Commercial frost cloths: found at gardening stores

Never use plastic over the plants because it keeps the oxygen from escaping, and the plants won’t have access to carbon dioxide.

Tip 3: Use Buckets to Protect Plants

When you place a bucket over a plant, make sure to leave its bottom propped up slightly so that the plant can have carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

Tip 4: Wet the Soil

Some gardeners recommend watering the soil around the plants because the moisture traps in the heat that is already in the dirt. This method is better for one-night frosty conditions rather than for several nights as the temperatures remain cold.

Tip 5: Cover Plants with Flowerpots

Keep a supply of extra flowerpots available to cover plants in your garden or on the lawns. Have an assortment of different sizes ready for when the temperature begins to drop.

Tip 6: Jugs of Hot Water

If you fill old milk jugs or other plastic containers with hot water, then you can set the items near the shrubs, plants or trees while also placing a fabric covering over the plants. The heat from the containers will evaporate to warm the inside of the area to protect your plants from the frost.

Tip 7: Move Plants Near to a Heated Building

When you have plants inside containers, you can move the flowerpots nearer to a building so that the flowers and shrubs are warmer. This is especially beneficial during windy conditions.

Tip 8: Outdoor Space Heaters

If you have an outdoor space heater that you use on a patio or deck, then you can use it to warm the area near a garden or other plants. Make sure to monitor the outdoor space heater to avoid any dangers from fires, and also, keep pets or children away from the space heater.

Choose the Right Landscaping Services  

Land and Lawn Care understands how important beautiful plants are to our customers. While performing residential or commercial landscaping, our gardeners see a variety of plants that require protection from frost. We have expertise in residential and commercial landscape design and installation services.

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