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How to Protect Spring Plants From Freezing Rain
How to Protect Spring Plants From Freezing Rain. In certain areas, spring will bring warm weather perfect for growing plants and flowers only to relapse into the chill of winter. When climate conditions are right, this will result in freezing rain. Freezing rain occurs when falling snow hits a patch of warm air on its way to the ground and melts,...
In certain areas, spring will bring warm weather perfect for growing plants and flowers only to relapse into the chill of winter. When climate conditions are right, this will result in freezing rain. Freezing rain occurs when falling snow hits a patch of warm air on its way to the ground and melts, then is cooled to below freezing again. This results in the rain droplets immediately freezing when they strike the ground. Freezing rain often results in an ice storm. Freezing rain can be deadly to your plants if you do not take proper protective measures ahead of time.
Things You'll Need
Mulch
Cardboard box or plastic container
Blankets and sheets
Plastic tarp
Bricks
Bring any outdoor potted plants indoors until the inclement weather has passed. This includes any potted plants on screened-in porches.
Provide your plants with a fresh, thick layer of mulch around their bases before the freezing rain arrives. A thick layer of mulch will help lock heat under the ground and help the plant survive freezing temperatures.
Cover any seedlings in your garden with a cardboard box or plastic container before proceeding with more thorough covering of your garden. This will prevent the small seedlings from being crushed.
Place blankets and sheets over the top of your spring plants. Blankets will help keep the plants warm.
Cover the blankets with a heavy plastic sheet or tarp. The tarp will not only protect the spring plants from the cold, it will protect them from being damaged by heavy ice deposits.
Secure the tarp snugly over the plants. You can secure a tarp using bricks or heavy rocks. If you are expecting high winds along with the freezing rain, consider staking the tarp into the ground.
Tips & Warnings
Consider transplanting your more delicate or tropical plants indoors immediately if freezing rain is predicted. They are likely to have a higher chance of surviving transplant shock than an ice storm.
Do not remove ice from any damaged plants or trees immediately after the storm. This will cause the plant's temperature to change too rapidly, resulting in even more damage.
