Why do I have to protect plants from frost?

Some plants are well adapted to surviving periods of cold weather when temperatures drop under freezing, but plants sensitive to frost can be seriously damaged or even killed by hard frost. In areas that rarely suffer from cold weather, gardeners often grow tropical or semi -transparent plants that can be damaged in excessive cold winter or chill in an early or late season. When cold weather is predicted, it is important to protect plants from frost to prevent damage or death.

Plants are most likely damaged by frost when they produce active new growth. This can happen when a hard frost hits at the end of spring after the plants begin to grow. New, gentle growth is easily damaged or even killed because it did not have time for full determination. Hard frost early in the autumn can also cause damage because the plants did not have time to go to the sleeping state in preparation for cold weather. To damage frost can also happen in winter, kdThe temperatures drop the sub -level to which the plant is adapted.

Irrigation deep before hard frost can help protect plants from frost damage and maintaining plants well connected in general also help prevent regular frost damage. The plant stores the leaves, but when they are covered with frost, moisture is pulled out of the leaves. A well -irrigated plant experiences less general stress than a stressed drought plant, which allows you to better adapt to cold weather.

frost plants can be planted in protected areas where winter temperatures are less serious. A south -oriented wall and a place that is protected from winter winds can help prevent frost damage. Likewise, during cold weather, it is quickly warmed up faster to prevent plant damage. An alternative method to protect plants from frost damage is to plant them in containers andhibernation in the interior.

Mulch can also help regulate the soil temperature, but must be applied before the cold weather becomes effective. Once the Earth is already frozen, the mulch prevents soil warming. The mulch should be spread 2 to 4 inches (about 5 to 10 cm) deep in autumn - from the first frost - to protect the plants from frost damage.

Home and garden centers also sell material for packaging that can be used to protect trees and shrubs. Packing the trunk of tree -sensitive trees with insulating metabolism can help prevent damage. Another method used to protect plants from frost is to cover the entire canopy with insulating material.