This winter has been particularly brutal and seemingly never ending, but as it gets warmer in spring there is still risk for another cold snap that can undo all your hard early planting work. With the warm weather allowing plants to bud earlier this year, follow these tips to keep your plants flourishing even when winter just won’t die.
First bring any potted plants inside, they are the most vulnerable to frost.
Water loses heat slower than air, keeping a bucket of warm water or watering your plants the day before a freeze can help keep them from being damaged by frost.
If you notice that your plants are losing water from their leaves following a freeze, apply water to thaw the soil. The frozen ground will make water unavailable to your plants and could dry them out.
When anticipating a freeze, cover your plants overnight with burlap or a bed sheet to act as an insulation against the frost. To prevent your already budding plants or crops from getting damaged by the tarp, place a coffee can, tomato cage or jar over the plant itself.
Be sure to remove the burlap from your plants in the morning, however, as oxygen and sunlight are essential to their survival.
To assess the damages following the freeze, examine the inside of various buds several days later. If the inside is a dark brown or black, it is likely that your plant has been damaged.
If there is no discoloration, you might just be the first on the block this year with a vibrant flower garden and fresh vegetables.
