How to Protect Fruit Trees from Freezing Temperatures

Some fruit trees are hardy, but many are very sensitive to freezing temperatures, particularly if they are in bloom. If the blossoms are exposed to freezing temperatures, the blossoms will die and no fruit will form. In you have a tropical fruit tree such as orange or lemon, the fruit itself needs to be protected from frost.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas drop cloths or
• Hoses, sprinklers and hose coupler or
• Smudge pots

Instructions

1. Cover your fruit trees. This works best with dwarf-sized trees, although it is possible to cover full-size trees. Use canvas drop cloths (the kind painters use), and completely cover the leaves, blossoms and/or fruit.

2. Use a fine mist of water to protect your fruit trees. Water will protect fruit trees from freezing as long as it continually bathes the tree when temperatures dip to freezing or below. Place sprinklers so water continually falls on the entire tree. Put a sprinkler on two sides of the tree. Use a dual-hose coupler to attach both hoses to your water supply.

3. Use smudge pots to protect fruit trees from frost. A smudge pot is a large pot with a central chimney. It is filled with oil and placed between the trees. As the oil burns, the smoke and heat rise up and envelope the fruit trees with their warmth, thereby protecting them from freezing.

Tips & Warnings

• Hard fruits such as apples or pears can stand temperatures in the low 30s F but not lower.