How to Protect Plants and Flowers from Frost
Baby your plants and flowers through a cold spell and they'll reward you by continuing to bring beauty and joy to your world.
Up next in Gardening Tips (27 videos)
How does your garden grow? Everything -- plants, flowers, vegetables -- will grow better if you heed the gardening tips in this Howcast video series.
You Will Need
- Weather forecast
- Water
- Fan
- Covering materials
- Outdoor lights
- plastic milk jugs (optional)
- Bubble wrap (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Listen to forecast
Listen to local weather forecasts for frost warnings during vulnerable periods of the growing season in order to take proactive steps to protect your plants and flowers from a freeze.
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Step 2
Water plants
Water your plants and flowers late in the day to raise the temperature of the surrounding air.
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Step 3
Set up a fan
Set up a fan near your plants and flowers to generate a breeze, which keeps cold air from alighting on the garden.
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Step 4
Cover plants
Cover plants and flowers before dark with cardboard boxes, sheets, burlap, newspaper, plastic tarps or any similar materials you have on hand.
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Cut off the tops of plastic milk jugs and place them over plants and flowers to protect them from frost damage.
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Step 5
Place a light
Place an outdoor light beneath plant coverings to generate heat, making sure to keep the light a safe distance from flammable materials.
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Cover the pot of container gardens in bubble wrap to retain root warmth and prevent frost damage.
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Step 6
Remove coverings
Remove coverings in the morning when frost danger has passed and look forward to watching your plants grow and bloom, thanks to your care.
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Spinach likes colder temperatures and actually requires six weeks of cool weather to grow properly.
