How to Protect Plants from a Late Spring Freeze
Newly budding plants can be damaged and even killed by a late spring freeze, according to University of Illinois Extension educator Sandra Mason. Cold temperatures aren't the only damaging factor, however. Cold wind can dehydrate plants; soil heaving can leave roots vulnerable; rapid temperature fluctuations can damage tree bark and accelerate the dehydration process. Gardeners can take steps to protect tender plants from a late spring freeze by staying aware of climate conditions, increasing insulation, and ensuring adequate moisture is available to young plants, Mason said. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant at the appropriate time for your region. Your state extension service can provide information on the last expected frost date for your area. This date varies from one USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to the next, and also within each zone. Some seeds and plants can tolerate cold, while others are tender and should not be planted until after the last expected frost date.
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Stay apprised of weather predictions. The National Weather Service issues frost warnings when temperatures are expected to drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. However, frost damage can occur even when temperatures are a few degrees above the freezing mark. Monitor weather predictions and be prepared to take protective measures when either low temperatures or high winds are predicted.
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Hydrate your plants. Keep your gardens evenly watered, especially when a late freeze is predicted. Damage from frost occurs when low temperatures draw out moisture from the plant, forming ice crystals on the leaves, according to Lucy Bradley of the University of Arizona Extension. Plants that are already drought-stressed will suffer more damage than those that grow in a uniformly moist garden.
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Mulch your gardens. Bradley and Mason both warn that rapidly fluctuating soil temperatures put plants at greater risk from frost damage. Mulch prevents the soil from absorbing excessive heat during the day and releasing it too quickly at night.
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Protect your perennials. Cycles of freezing and melting throughout the winter cause a condition called soil heaving, which pushes the roots of the plant to the surface of the soil. There, they are more vulnerable to damage from low temperatures. Prevent heaving, Mason said, by applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch at the beginning of winter. Pull it back, away from the crowns of the plants, to prevent rotting when temperatures begin to warm. When frost is predicted, recover the crowns overnight so they are not exposed to the cold.
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Insulate your plants. Bradley recommends covering plants with a frost cloth, sheets or blankets to minimize heat loss around the plants and to contain the heat radiating from the ground. Use a framing system to prevent the cloth from lying directly on the plants. Secure the cloth at ground level so there are no spaces through which heat can escape. Be sure to remove the covers at the first opportunity the next morning.
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Tips & Warnings
Add heat to covered plants using 100-watt light bulbs in fixtures approved for outdoor use. Keep the bulb at ground level so the heat will rise, and be sure it is far enough away from the plant to avoid burning it.
Always uncover your plants in the morning. Leaving them covered will result in excessive heat buildup that can damage plants.
