Spring is a tough time of year to be a gardener. It can be 80 degrees one day and drop below freezing the next.When planting in the Spring it is important not invest time and money on plants and flowers only to have them destroyed by a late frost. You can protect your investment by selecting plants that have a high tolerance for frost, or by waiting to plant until after the last frost date for your area. There are a number of websites on the internet that will provide you with the last frost date for your area. One of these sites is Victory Seeds.
Even by taking these prudent precautions though, you may still get caught by a late spring frost. If you have some advance warning that a frost is coming, here are some steps you can take to protect your plants and flowers:
- Move potted plants indoors. Potted plants are the most susceptible to frost since their roots are above ground.
- Water the garden thoroughly before nightfall. The soil will release moisture into the air around your plants during the night, keep the air somewhat warmer.
- Cover up your plants and flowers before dark! There are a number of commercially available plant frost protection
products, but anything you can do to keep the cold air off of your plants will help protect them. Make a tent and cover your plants with some type of lightweight material. Materials that you can use include: newspaper, cardboard, plastic tarps, or bed sheeting.
- Cover small plants with some type of container such as upside down flower pot, can, bucket, cup or garbage can.
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