How to Protect Garden Plants From Frost

Take precautions when you hear there is a frost warning in your area.

When the weather forecaster issues a frost warning, it is time to take action to protect your plants. When purchasing plants check the planting label to determine if your choices will need protection from frost. If the label does not give you the information you need, then check with your local extension service or master gardeners who can tell you if particular plants need protection from the frost.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Sprinkler
• Old blankets, coats or tarps
• Wire or wooden stakes
• Bricks or rocks
• Hay or straw
• Small lights or Christmas lights

Instructions

1. Water the plants a day or two before the frost is expected. Wet soil holds in the day's heat more readily than dry soil. If you don't have a two-day warning, turn on the water sprinkler and allow it to spray over your garden plants through the night. If you do not water the area, proceed to the next step.

2. Cover the plants with old blankets, coats or tarps in the early evening. Simply lay the covering over the plants. If the cover is light, like a tarp, you will not need to brace the cover, but heavier coverings, such as coats or blankets, will need to have wire or wooden stakes to keep the weight from crushing the plants. You can also place small outdoor lights, such as Christmas lights around the plants before you cover them with a blanket. Christmas lights produce enough heat to protect plants from freezing. Be careful to keep the covers from touching the lights, but hold the coverings down at the four corners with rocks or bricks, to keep them from blowing away. Remove the covers after frost danger has passed so the plants do not overheat. If you don't want to cover the plants with a tarp or blankets proceed to the next step.

3. Cover the plants with hay or straw. Place the mulching material over the plants to lock in moisture and help hold in heat. Remove the hay or straw from the plants after frost danger has passed.

Tips & Warnings

• Always remember to remove the covers in the morning, because the sunlight may create too much heat for the plants. If the weather is going to stay in the freezing temperatures through the day, leave the plants covered until air temperatures are above freezing.

References

• Gardening Know How: Protecting Plants from Frost Damage
• The Garden Helper: Protecting Your Plants and Flowers From Frost
• Mississippi State University Extension: Protecting Plants from Cold Temperatures

Resources

• Back Yard Gardener: Plant Hardiness Zone Map
• "National Garden Book" Sunset 1997