A Freeze Warning or Frost Advisory issued in late Spring or Fall may require precautions to protect frost-tender plants, which includes annuals, tropical and patio tropical plants, water plants, vegetables, and herbs.

At a minimum, you should check plants today for moisture, especially if they were not exposed to the recent rains. A hydrated plant is less likely to suffer cold damage.

You can also help protect tender perennials and any shrub plants with FreezePruf (Ready-to-Use), N-Sulate Frost Protection Blankets and burlap.

All English Gardens Garden Centers are stocked with these products. While an application of Freezepruf can increae freeze tolerance by 2.3 to 9.4 degrees of temperature (which can be critical for tender plants), a combination of Freezepruf and a frost protection blanket or burlap should be used to limit damage even further.

Container plants can be moved inside or under a covered area. Succulents, especially those that have been watered, can freeze and turn to mush. Succulents should be kept on the dry side, and specimens should be brought indoors.

Moving plants indoors is the best protection. A covered porch usually provides protection from light frost, but the garage or sun room is better for freezing temperatures. A couple days in darkness won’t hurt the plant. Or move them out during the day and back in at night, if cold temperatures persist.

You can also set you sprinklers to run short intervals and repeatedly through the night into the early morning hours.

Frost forms when the temperatures reach freezing temperature of 32 degrees F and goes below the dew point temperature. Still cloudless nights are more likely to frost than cloudy and windy nights.

Temperature at ground level is colder than just a couple feet above ground level, making plants closer to the ground more susceptible to frost damage

If plants do get damaged, don’t prune cold-damaged plants.

The first reaction after a frost is to prune back any obviously damaged fronds, stems or branch tips.

This is just the beginning of unexpected frost/freeze and the potential for more freezing nights is great. Damaged plant parts actually protect unaffected parts below. If these damaged portions are removed, you expose the healthy tissues to the next frost or freeze. Wait until the weather improves before cleaning up damage.

Many frost-damaged plants will come back from the base or sprout from unaffected branches in the spring. Plants that will not return are the summer annuals and vegetables. The best thing you can do for all of your garden plants now is to keep them watered until the rains come.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your damaged plants, visit any English Gardens store or send your question to https://globalsecuresite.com/englishgardens/ask-us-for-advice.