HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BLOOMING SPRING PLANTS FROM FROST & FREEZE
- Use burlap or bed sheets to cover plants so they can breathe
- Never use plastic covering, this can cause freezing
- Hose plant with moderate water before frost forms, before sun rises to heat air around plant, wash off frost
- Remove any coverings in the morning
- When planning your garden, choose frost hardy or late spring blooming plants to avoid worry
When a frost or freeze threatens plants, garden expert Mark Webber, owner of Mark Webber's Landscaping, Nursery and Farm, advises people to cover certain plants.
"Generally speaking, we have to think about plants that are tender to colder temperatures," said Webber.
LISTEN TO MARK WEBBER ON SATURDAYS on News 95.7 WHIO and AM 1290, during GARDEN TALK.
Japanese Maples are a prime example of a sensitive plant that people should cover before a frost or freeze.
Webber warns, the material people cover their plants with is important. "You want to use something like burlap or bed sheets that has the ability to breathe," said Webber. Never use plastic as it can actually freeze the plants.
Also, remember to remove the cover in the morning to avoid from cooking the plants as temperatures warm during the day. People should keep their cover handy though, because frosts and freezes are common during the spring.
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