The deep freeze that gripped much of the U.
S.
in early January, including places as far south as Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida, has many gardeners worried about their plants.
The unusually cold temperatures were a shock to the native plants that are used to warmer winters, so many people are worried about freeze damage to plants and protecting plants from frost damage that may occur again.
However, there are steps that you can take to prevent serious damage to your garden from frost or freeze.
By following these tips, you'll be able to make the best of your plants after a cold winter.
Protecting Plants From Frost Damage You may find yourself wondering what the difference is between a frost and a freeze.
In general, frosts are less serious.
For a frost to occur, it must be a clear night with little or no wind, and there must be humidity in the air for the water droplets to form on warmer surfaces.
The temperature may not even drop below 32 degrees.
The critical number is the dew point, the measurement of water in the air.
If the dew point is below freezing, then a frost is likely.
However, a freeze is more serious.
For a freeze to occur, there must be cold, Arctic air in the region - colder air than with a frost.
There also needs to be wind, and very low humidity.
Freeze damage to plants is more serious because the foliage will dry out.
Protecting plants from frost damage involves following a few simple steps.
First of all, water the plants late in the afternoon.
The wet soil will release moisture into the air during the night, surrounding plants with a somewhat warmer local blanket of air.
Then, it's important to cover the plants before nightfall and the loss of the day's heat.
You can use whatever you have - old sheets or blankets, burlap sacks, cardboard, or but not plastic.
If the covering is lighter, it's okay to lay it directly over the plants, but heavier coverings may require a wire support to prevent the plants from being crushed.
If you're serious about protecting plants from frost damage, make sure you remove these covers in the morning to let the light and heat reach the plants.
Preventing And Healing Freeze Damage To Plants If a freeze is predicted, follow the same steps as with a frost.
Water the plants and cover them, and consider adding an additional plastic layer of covering over the sheet layer as well.
It's important to make sure a cloth barrier is between the plastic and the garden, because plastic may damage the plants! If a long freeze is expected, focus attention on the roots, instead of the foliage.
A heavy layer of wood mulch or hay around the plants' roots can prevent freeze damage to plants from killing the whole plant.
Jugs of warm water into the mulch can provide a little extra warmth on a cold night.
Protecting Plants From Frost Damage - Why It's Important It's important to take these steps in the event of a frost or a freeze because many types of plants can get damaged by colder temperatures.
Areas with warmer climates often have an abundance of tropical plants that don't tolerate freeze damage to plants very well.
These plants, as well as lawns, turn brown after suffering through a freeze.
However, if freeze damage to plants has already occurred, wait to prune the shrubs until the threat of frost or freeze has gone away.
These damaged areas of the plants may, to an extent, protect the rest of the plant from suffering further damage.
Don't worry about fertilizing the lawn right after a freeze; this can be done in late winter or early spring.
By following these tips, hopefully you will know how to protect your plants from frosts and freezes in the future.