Keeping garden plants warm during bitter cold
It’s cold outside — if the white sparkly sheen on the lawn before dawn and the sheets of ice on your windshields are any indication.
While you sit nice and toasty in your heated homes, some of your outdoor plants may struggle through the night.
Watch for weather advisories of freeze warnings, which occur when the temperatures dip down to 32 degrees and below for an extended period of time, according to the National Weather Service. Freezes tends to happen during clear and calm nights during the winter season.
Since water expands when it freezes, delicate plants may have their cells burst from the cold weather, causing damage to plants, while other cold weather issues are related to an overall drying of the plant.
Out of the fruit trees that you might own, citrus trees — especially limes — are highly susceptible to freezing temperatures, according to Arthur Duivenvoorde, manager and landscape foreman at Hollendutch Nursery.
Avocados trees are also apt to drop fruit or become damaged from frost, especially if they are not well established, he said.
In order to protect backyard trees and fruit from freezing, residents can cover the tree with a large piece of cloth — but don’t use any plastic.
“Plastic draws moisture out, that’s why we’re trying to cover it,” Duivenvoorde said.
Also remember to take off the covering during the day to let the plants have necessary
access to the sun.
Another way to protect plants is through a spray on the market called Cloud Cover. It acts like a wax on the plant to make sure the moisture isn’t drawn out due to the cold air, Duivenvoorde said.
Outdoor plants should also be kept well-watered in order to ensure that moisture stays with the plants during a freeze, he said. With a little assistance, your most sensitive plants can survive the cold snap.