A cold snap poses a significant danger to your garden should you face it unprepared. You must have a plan before a cold snap hits. Otherwise, the damage your plants will face could ruin your whole garden. Bearing that in mind, here is what you can do to protect your garden in a cold snap!
How do you keep plants warm in cold snaps?
Move Your Potted Plants Inside
Moving plants inside an enclosed space is recommended if you have hanging plants and container gardens. Leaving these plants inside a home or garage during the cold snap means they will not be subjected to the incoming frost. Unfortunately, this strategy will do your ground plants no good. Digging up your garden bed can do more harm to the budding plants than good. Instead, you should cover and mulch your garden plants during a cold snap!
Cover Your Plants
Covering your plants with a basket or a frost blanket will keep them warm. By employing a covering, you will not only insulate the ground surrounding your garden but also trap the hot air with the plant. It is important to note that while covering your plants is a viable strategy; you must remove the cover as soon as the temperature starts warming up. Leaving a blanket on your garden for too long can kill the plants. On top of that, you should never, under any circumstance, use plastic to cover your plants in a cold snap!
Mulch Your Plants
Mulch will keep the base of the plants moist and warm during the colder weather. Mulch serves as an insulator that will protect the roots of your garden and keep everything alive and healthy when paired with a cover.
Should you water plants before a cold snap?
Contrary to what you may have expected, it is highly encouraged that you water plants before a cold snap! No, the water will not hurt the plant; it will protect your garden from light frost damage. Plants that are dry and thirsty are more susceptible to the cold than well-kept and watered plants. Watering before a freeze can create warmth within your garden if covered, so do not be shy about it!
Can plants recover from a cold snap?
If damage occurs in your garden during a cold snap, you should address the issue as soon as possible! Plants can recover from a cold snap; however, some work will be required. Once the cold has passed over, you need to prune the dead leaves and branches. Be careful during the pruning process, as overdoing it can hurt the plant more than it helps.
To aid your plant’s recovery, you should gently water it. Giving it too much water too fast can overwhelm the plant and stunt its growth. After some time has passed, you should carefully shake the plant’s root ball. If the plant is not firmly entrenched in the ground, then chances are it is too far gone to recover.
Experience Outdoor Living!
At Omni Outdoor Living, we make it our mission to help our customers make the most out of their outdoor experiences. We offer quality outdoor products focused on outdoor recreation, DIY projects, entertaining friends and family, or just relaxing outside! If you have any questions about your outdoor experience or our wide range of outdoor products, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
