With the advent of cold weather, it is important to know how to protect plants from frost, since especially tender and young plants can be wiped out by a sudden cold snap.
There are many quick ways you can protect the most vulnerable plants, and it is certainly better to be safe than sorry – there is nothing more devastating than seeing beautiful plants you lovingly cared for seemingly ruined overnight by a visit from Jack Frost.
Unless you live in a warm area, it’s possible that some of the ornamental plants and crops you’ve included in your garden ideas need some protection, so read on to find out how you can help them survive the cooler months.
How to protect plants from frost – which plants to protect
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Not all backyard plants will need frost protection, but there are certain classes that will. These include:
- Young seedlings and new growth
- perennial tender
- semi-hardy varieties
- Tropical and subtropical plants such as palms and banana plants
Signs of frost damage include blackened, distorted, or limp growth and leaves turning green on evergreen plants and shrubs.
If in any doubt, research the conditions and hardiness of particular plants. Err on the side of caution and include frost protection in your winter garden ideas if cold weather is forecast in your state or region.
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Regarding vegetable crops, there are some that actually benefit from a dose of frost and can taste better afterwards. “There are some plant crops that are frost tolerant, if not frost tolerant,” explains Nicole Burke, author of Rooted Garden.
If you live in a colder region, it pays to learn how to grow kale and other frost-tolerant vegetable crops.
1. Bring potted plants indoors
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There are many quick ways how to protect plants from frost, and one of the easiest is to bring potted plants indoors, especially tender container plants.
Potted plants are more susceptible to frost damage because they do not have the insulating benefits of those planted in the ground.
Use a frost-free conservatory, garden room, garage, porch, or greenhouse to scatter potted plants—not somewhere too warm.
This can be a convenient option if you are wondering how to override fuchsias in winter pots, or how to prepare hydrangeas in winter, for example.
2. Add a layer of mulch to the garden beds
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Plant expert Sarah Raven advises: “Apply a dry mulch, such as shredded bark or straw around hardy plants, such as agapanthus, phygelius (cape fuchsia), hedychium, and melianthus to protect the crown.”
You can also use leaf mold or leaf piles to add some extra protection to garden beds and provide a barrier against the cold.
Learn how to make leaf mulch to protect tender, emerging plants.
3. Cover the plants with wool
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You may be wondering how to protect plants from frost when planted in the ground? One way – useful for large garden plants and shrubs – is to cover them with horticultural wool. You can also use blankets or bubble wrap to create a protective cover.
Place several stakes around your plants and then cover them with the chosen material to create a tent-like structure. Weigh the corners to prevent the covers from flying away at night and remove the covers during the day.
You can use this method for plants that require winter protection, such as agapanthus, cordyline and tree ferns.
Sarah Raven advises that “fleece is very effective, but if you prefer something a little less fussy, a circle of mesh wire filled with bows or papers will keep the cooler in place.”
You can also wrap the trunks of young trees with blankets or horticultural fleece, such as if you are growing some of the best fruit trees or have mastered how to grow lemons from seeds.
4. Put the tender plants in a protected place
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The motto “Right Plant, Right Place” is relevant when thinking about how to protect plants from frost.
The experts at Jacksons Nurseries advise “always grow semi-hardy, frost-soft plants in a sheltered location, preferably near a south- or west-facing wall, that will absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night.”
They add that “eliminating the wind chill factor can significantly reduce the amount of frost damage.”
Other sheltered positions will include next to fences, under large evergreen trees for gardens, under sheltered pergola ideas or in patio or patio areas, as long as they also receive plenty of sunlight.
While a sheltered sunny spot is ideal for many delicate plants, don’t place early flowering plants, such as magnolias and camellias, until exposed to the morning sun. “Rapid thawing of frozen buds can lead to blackening and dropping of buds,” advises Jay Barter, an RHS horticultural expert.
5. Raising and storing tender perennials
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Soft perennials that have flowered and faded can be raised to protect them from frost.
Store roots, bulbs, tubers, and worms in a cool but frost-free place, such as a potting shed or greenhouse.
This is a convenient way of how to get past the winter or how to get past the begonia.
6. Protect delicate plants with a cloth
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Garrett)
If you are wondering how to protect plants from frost in a vegetable patch, shed is one of the best methods. A cloth can be used to protect seedlings and young plants from frost.
Clamps are bell-shaped covers made of glass or plastic that can be placed over plants. You can buy handbags or even make your own from recycled items.
Cut large plastic bottles Or the milk containers can be converted into homemade packaging to be planted in the soil around young plants and seedlings to provide protection,” advises experts at Jackson Nurseries.
Remove them during the day to allow the plants to benefit from the warmth and energy of the sun.
The masks are ideal for use with small vegetable crops grown in the fall, such as beans, spinach, and green onions or green onions and asparagus.
7. Move the plants to a cool place
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Young annuals planted in the fall may benefit from some frost protection.
Place them in a cool structure shelter during the winter, although make sure they have good ventilation on warmer days.
You can make an old cold frame if you don’t have one already, tip the experts at Jacksons Nurseries.
To make your own temporary cool frame:
- Bend thin metal bars into rings – you can use wire coat hangers for this
- Insert the ends of the metal rings into the ground on either side of a row of crops or plants
- Put a piece of clear plastic over the frame and hold it in place to protect the plants below
8. Watering the plants in the morning
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You probably don’t think that your plant’s watering routine can make a difference when thinking about how to protect plants from frost – but it can actually help support any protective measures you take.
It is best to water the plants in the morning during winter and when there is a threat of frost, because moist soil already absorbs heat during the day and has an insulating effect.
9. Packaging containers
(Photo credit: Ian West / Alamy Stock Photo)
If you are unable to move containers indoors as a way of how to protect plants from frost, try to protect them from the outside elements by placing the pots in sheltered areas, and where possible grouped together for additional protection against cold and wind.
Container plants are more likely to suffer from freezing of their roots. To prevent this, “wrap containers with bubble wrap or straw, or bury pots in the ground with only the edge showing, to take advantage of the ground’s insulating properties,” RHS experts advise.
Also, elevate containers with the feet of pots or set them on bricks to allow water to drain more easily, and to prevent plants from sitting in the icy water.
10. Choose the right plants for your back garden
(Photo credit: Future/Camilla Reynolds)
Rather than trying to protect plants that are unsuitable for your back garden’s climate, choose instead those that are hardy in the area you live in. This will prevent disappointments from losing plants when they are not adequately protected.
Many shrubs and evergreen plants are fairly vigorous. The plants will have a hardiness rating ranging from very hardy – able to withstand temperatures of 0-10°F (-18-12°C) – to frost tender, which may not survive exposure to temperatures below 40-50°F (4 -10 degrees Celsius).
While this may somewhat limit the plants or crops you can include in your garden, there are still plenty of options suitable for your hardiness zone.
You can also include some of the best winter flowers to plant for color and interest in the cooler months, or the best winter plants for pots and borders.
What can I cover my plants with to prevent frost?
There are several materials you can use to cover plants to prevent frost.
You can find many horticultural wools and frost protection products on the market, but you can also use materials that you can find around the house – just make sure they are lightweight, breathable, and insulating.
Usage options include:
- straw
- bubble wrap
- Blankets, sheets and towels
- Newspaper
- Leaves or other organic matter
What temperature should I cover my plants at for frost?
The temperature at which your plants must be covered from frost to protect them will depend on the individual plants, the conditions, and the location in which they are grown.
Frost occurs at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), so this is the point at which you need to protect plants for the winter.
Most plants will need protection from temperatures of 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 degrees Celsius) or lower, but tender frost specimens should be protected before temperatures drop to this low.
Can I use plastic bags to cover plants from frost?
It is not recommended to use plastic bags to cover plants from frost. This is because plastic can damage plants if it comes into contact with foliage, as it traps water against the plant and causes more damage from freezing.
It’s also not a very insulating material, nor is it an environmentally friendly or sustainable option, so look for alternatives when deciding how to protect plants from frost.