How to protect plants from frost? Discover 4 tips and tricks for guaranteed results!

It sure is getting chilly, isn’t it? Oof! Soon enough, it will be time to open our winter closets and take out those warm puffer jackets! I mean, my hometown is located on the seaside, and the wind there can just blow you away at this time of year! You can freeze to death! Same can happen with those garden plants of mine. I mean, I should provide them with a winter jacket of their own right? Don’t want them to freeze, like I do every time I go back to my hometown for Thanksgiving. In this case, let’s look at 4 tips and tricks on how to protect plants from frost! Off we go!

Which plants will need protecting?

Firstly, let’s discuss which plants in your garden might need protection. Then will focus on the strategies. Okay, so not all of your garden greenery will need protection. That which will, includes tender plants, such as tropical and subtropical houseplants, some annuals, fresh seedlings, tender perennials, etc. Most often, the annual plants that blossom during warmer weather are those which will need protection from the cold. Think about if you have plants like these. If you do, keep an eye on them if you want to preserve plants as long as possible during colder weather. In contrast, there is a lot of vegetation that can actually withstand the cold. That includes vegetables such as lettuce, onions, broccoli, cabbage, peas, etc. Flowers like sweet alyssums and pansies can also endure the frost. Shrubs and trees will survive the sudden drops in temperature if they are healthy.

Okay, we have examined which plants require protection from frost. Up next is how to achieve it!

1. Move your potted plants inside

Pretty close to mind, right? Potted plants don’t have the stability of those planted in the ground, so they need to be protected from frost damage. Keep check of the weather forecast, and if you see a frost is on its way, move your plants inside. Don’t place them in a room that is too warm because the sudden change in temperatures can harm your greenery. Pick a shed, garage, basement, garden room or any other free room you can use for this occasion. Be sure to check your container plants for any insects before bringing them inside, so you don’t spread any germs or disease around the house. When the frost is gone, you can move your plants back in the open garden.

2. Water your plants often & midday

Wondering how to protect plants from frost? Did you know that by keeping your soil moist, you can preserve a warmer temperature for your plants? Awesome trick right?! When the soil is moist enough, it brings heat to the surface, and warms up your plants. So when frost arises, be sure to water your greenery thoroughly to protect it. The time in which you water it is also of importance. Best to do so midday, when the temperatures are still warm. That will also give enough time for the soil to absorb the water and protect your vegetation during the cold nights.

3. Cover plants to protect them from frost

Well, didn’t I say that your plants also deserve having a puffer jacket? I surely did! It easily comes to mind that by covering your plants, you can protect them from the frost. There are many materials you can choose from to do so. You can, of course, go to the farmer’s market and look for covers specifically designed for plant protection. But then again, nothing beats some DIY tips and tricks! Gather any old blankets, bedsheets, and towels you have at home. Also acquire a large layer of plastic—for instance, a tarp. Put in wooden stakes around the plants you want to preserve. Then loosely lay out the materials you will use for coverage. Add the final layer of plastic. Lay out bricks and other heavy items in case of wind. When morning comes, remove the coverage to prevent the plants from overheating.

4. Protect your plants with a cloche

When searching for ways on how to protect plants from frost, using a cloche will come quite handy. Cloche are bell-shaped plastic or glass covers designed to protect your plants from cold weather. They can be especially helpful in the vegetable patch, or to preserve seedlings and tender plants during frost. You can buy a cloche, or you can easily design one by yourself. Let me tell you how! Take a milk jug and cut off its bottom. Then place it over your plant by pushing it down to make sure it is deep in the ground. Better to tie the milk jug cloche’s handle to a tree or stake to make sure it isn’t blown away during the night. In the morning, remove the lid of the jug to let the plant breath.

Hopefully, my 4 tips and tricks will be of use to you when you are aiming at protecting your plants from frost. I used most of the tips in my garden, and so far it is looking pretty good. Fingers crossed it stays that way, and so does yours! Okay, now that my garden is protected, what I need to do next is pick out some typical fall flowers for my balcony. I wonder with which should I go… What do you think?