Protect Your Plants From Winter Frost

There is perhaps nothing more nostalgic than a sparkly blanket of pure white snow covering your garden. But as the temperature drops, gardeners’ stress levels rise because snow and frost are major killers of tender plants. Dormant plants are susceptible to damage from frost and waterlogged soil. But with a bit of planning (and listening to the weather forecast) you can help your plants survive safely to the following spring. How much protection do you need to provide? It’s going to depend on local weather conditions and your garden’s exposure.

Beware of starry, starry nights. These are usually cold and cloudless. Clouds act as an insulator against heat loss, but in cloudless nights plants lose the heat they stored during the day and don’t benefit from any natural insulation. Water freezes under frosty, cold weather conditions and so does the soil, meaning that plant roots can’t get nourishment. Furthermore, the water in their cells also freezes and damages the cell wall. Then, to make matters worse, the plants defrost under the morning sun and their cell walls become ruptured, often fatally. Tell-tale signs of a frost-damaged plant are limpness, distortion and blackened, translucent leaves.

Following the old adage that prevention is better than cure, here are a few tips to help keep your plants snug and cozy, and (hopefully) survive the roughest of winters:

● Cover perennials, plants and bulbs with a layer of mulch; it will protect the root system, improve drainage and prevent the soil from freezing over. The mulch will break down, adding nutrients to the soil over the winter months.

● Take cuttings from the more delicate specimens, plant them in pots and move them into a greenhouse over the winter. If the worst happens and you lose any plants to frost, you should have new specimens to plant by the time spring comes around.

● Cold air sinks and warm air rises, so if there are any low-lying areas in your garden they could be affected by frost while the rest of the garden is not. Slopes are also usually frost-free. Other sheltered areas are under large trees, or against walls. Plant any tender species in protected sites. On cold nights you can cover them with a tent made of plastic sheeting in a wire frame. The tent should be close to the plants; otherwise the heat around the plant will evaporate. Remove the tent in the morning.

● Small, delicate plants can be covered with paper cups, flower pots, glass jars or any other small cover that comes to mind. Remember to remove the protective covers in the morning or your poor plants will overheat under the morning sun.

● Frost can’t form under windy or breezy conditions. Try creating an artificial breeze with an electric fan.

If your beloved plants do suffer frost damage, there is still hope. Don’t cut off the damaged parts during the winter. Most plants will recover by springtime and the pruning, along with some balanced fertilizer, will encourage healthy new growth.