How to Protect Citrus Trees From Frost at Home
The citrus belt of North America stretches across the country from California to Florida. These temperate areas produce the nations citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, lemons and grapefruits. Every so often the coastal regions and their citrus crops come under the threat of frost and freezing temperatures. Protecting these crops from frost can be a full time job on a citrus farm, but for most home growers with few citrus trees protecting these plants from a coming frost can be accomplished more readily. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Water the trees if the soil appears dry right before a frost is to be expected. Moist or damp soil will conduct heat efficiently through the roots of the tree, whereas dry soil will not hold heat nearly as well.
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Remove any mulch or composted material from around the base of the tree. This will allow the sun to efficiently heat the soil under the tree.
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Cover the citrus trees when a frost or freezing weather is expected. You can build a tree shelter using a four posts staked into the ground at the sides of the tree, and braced together horizontally. Place plastic such as Visqueen, or use burlap to drape over the posts and cover the tree. Do not let the tree touch the covering fabric or plastic as this will conduct freezing temperatures into the tree.
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Tips & Warnings
If you covered your tree, ventilate the covering during the day or take it off completely to allow the sun to heat the tree. Replace the covering before the sun sets.
Precautions for preventing frost damage should be done the day before the expected frost. Weather tends to change quickly and just one hard freeze can wipe out a citrus crop.
