Here’s how to protect your plants during the first frost, by WCCO - CBS Minnesota on YouTube. 1 min 21 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 21 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Check the overnight forecast the evening before. Frost usually forms when the sky is clear and the temperature is expected to fall to about 32°F (0°C) or lower.
Water the soil around your plants the day before the cold night. Damp soil holds more heat than dry soil and releases it slowly after sunset.
Pick or harvest anything that is ready. Tomatoes, peppers and beans that are already ripe will not survive, so bring them inside.
Cover tender plants with a sheet, blanket, burlap or frost cloth. Drape it so the fabric reaches the ground on all sides and traps warmth.
Support the cover with stakes or hoops so it does not touch the leaves. Fabric resting on foliage can freeze and damage the plant.
Push down the edges with bricks, stones or soil. A cover that blows open lets cold air in and does nothing.
Group potted plants together against a house wall or in a sheltered corner. Move small pots into a garage or shed if you can.
Add a thick layer of mulch, straw or dry leaves around the base of shrubs and perennials. This protects the roots from freezing.
Remove the covers in the morning once the temperature rises above freezing. Leaving them on too long traps moisture and can rot the plants.
Tips and common mistakes
Never use plastic sheeting directly on leaves, because it holds cold and can burn the plant.
Cover plants before sunset so the soil has time to release heat under the fabric.
Water the ground, not the leaves, since wet foliage freezes faster.
Bring hanging baskets and small pots indoors for the night if space allows.
Questions
What temperature should I start covering plants?
Start when the forecast is near 32°F (0°C). Tender plants like tomatoes and basil can be damaged a few degrees above freezing.
Can I use a plastic tarp to cover plants?
Only if it does not touch the leaves. Plastic blocks airflow and can freeze foliage, so use cloth or frost cloth instead.
When should I take the covers off?
In the morning after the temperature rises above freezing. Leaving covers on during the day traps moisture and heat.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
