When the weather forecaster warns of an overnight freeze, cover your plants with burlap, an old sheet or blanket, or clear plastic. Use stakes or another support to keep the covering from directly touching the plants.
It's best to have covers in place before it starts to cool off. This way you retain the heat around the plant. Drape covering loosely to allow for air circulation.
Plastic can be used to protect plants from frost, but it's not the best or most effective material. In fact, the horticultural experts here at Green Impressions actually recommend against it. Plastic materials such as vinyl and traditional camping tarps aren't breathable, causing moisture to get trapped inside.
A fabric covering is best because it will allow moisture to escape while still protecting your plants from frost. Fabric coverings will prevent the freezing air from coming into direct contact with the moisture on the plant while also capturing the heat that is radiating from the ground.
Bed sheets or comforters work best for covering large plants and shrubs. Newspaper can be used on low-growing foliage, but it can often be difficult to get it to stay in place. You can also use old pillowcases, sheets, towels and even cardboard boxes.
Burlap is more effective than plastic because it allows the plant to breathe so air circulates and heat isn't trapped. Burlap for protecting plants can be as simple as an old burlap bag. If you don't have access to burlap bags, you can purchase sheet burlap by the yard at most fabric stores.
Yes – if you secure the plant properly. Garbage bags work to cover plants and protect from frost, but they must not be allowed to touch the plant's surface. Use stakes and supports to create a tent-like structure over the plant, which will retain warm air. Make sure the trash bag goes all the way to the ground.
From that experience, I've found the best frost protection for your outdoor plants is either free or cheap. Cardboard boxes and brown grocery sacks make perfect frost cover and at the end of the season can be recycled. I keep various boxes on the patio and when frost is forecast simply put one over the plant.
A covered porch usually provides protection from light frost, but the garage or sun room is better for freezing temperatures. A couple days in darkness won't hurt the plant. Or move them out during the day and back in at night, if cold temperatures persist.
Know Your Plants' Cold Tolerance
Some frost-tender plants need to be covered as soon as the temperature hits 32°F, while others can handle lower temperatures and/or longer freezing periods. You'll need to look up each of your plants to verify its cold tolerance.
Materials such as fleece, hessian, bracken, straw and polystyrene can be used to insulate plants from cold or wind. To prevent sweating and possible rotting, protective covers should be removed when extended periods of very mild weather are forecast, but replaced as necessary if the weather becomes cold again.
If freezing temperatures are planned to linger longer than one night, cover your plants with a floating row cover, burlap, an old sheet, or even plastic. Place the cover over your potted plant before dusk to capture heat. Also, make sure the cover is significant enough to reach the ground and secure it.
Do not use plastic, such as tarps or plastic sheeting to cover plants. Plastic will transmit cold air to the plants, causing more harm than good. We recommend using cotton fabric or frost cloth to protect plants from frost.
As gardeners, our frost dates are based on 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) to avoid the risk of any plant death. However, know that even if air temperatures are as high as 38°F, frosts may occur on the ground and on plants. It's better to protect plants just in case!
Plastic bags can also suffocate plants by blocking sunlight and preventing photosynthesis from taking place. Plants play a vital role in the environment – they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and they sustain a wide array of animals.
Frost cloth is one of my go-to garden covers and I use it to protect my vegetables from frost, prevent cold damage, and keep pests away from my plants. These lightweight fabrics can be laid directly on top of crops or floated above on wire or PVC hoops.
Burlap, plastic, polypropylene, or fleece covers are some of the best plant covers to use for the winter. To keep plants warm in your garden, you will need to buy products that will retain heat while blocking out severe weather conditions like blizzards, heavy rain, and the sudden cold snap.
Hemp Fleece is breathable.
The natural fibers allow moisture and air to flow, which is healthy for your skin and feels more comfortable than sweaty, stuffy polyester fleece.
Thoroughly Water plants if it's not going to rain before the freezing temperatures arrive. It may sound illogical. However, a moist ground stays warmer than dry soil. Watering the night before the freeze comes will insulate the root structure of the grass and plants and decreases the potential for cold injury.
If the soil is dry and the cold front is not preceded by rainfall, water the landscape before the freeze. Watering 24 to 48 hours before the freeze will elevate the night temperatures by 2 degrees. Don't overdo it. A soggy soil is not healthy for plant roots and will create root disease problems down the line.
Indeed, a plant that is drought stressed will often show more damage after a light freeze. So if they are dry, always be sure to water your potted plants before a freeze to help them better handle the cold.
Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants. Cover plants before dark to trap warmer air.
When Should You Cover Plants? Cover your plants at night and remove them during the day when the temperatures rise above 32 degrees F, so that the soil can warm up again. Some outdoor plants won't survive the harsh conditions of winter, bring them inside and use these tips for caring for them through winter.