The Spruce / Jacob Fox

With winter comes frost and freezing temperatures.

While manyplants are winter-hardy, others can be damaged by as little as one night of frost.

The ice may rupture the plant’s cells, damaging parts of the plant or killing it.

Multiple plants covered with heat wraps to protect them from frost

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Frost can also damage plant roots.

Frost and freeze events are different.

A frost is generally when the temperature reaches 36F, and the plants may be able to recover.

Frost on tomato leaves

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A freeze is 32F, and a hard freeze is 28F or lower.

Plants may not be able to recover from a freeze or hard freeze.

Want more gardening tips?

Placing a plastic jug over top of a plant to protect it from frost

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Plants already in containers can be moved intact to asunroom or other suitable placein the home.

Like a blanket, mulch insulates the soil and keeps temperatures stable.

The besttime to apply mulchto the plants is in late fall.

a potted plant moved indoors for the winter

The Spruce / Almar Creative

Acold frameis a low structure built over and around the plant but not touching the plant.

You canbuild a DIY cold frameout of pressure-treated wood and plexiglass.

Cloches

Cloches are transparent or translucent caps for your plants.

Protecting a plant from frost by mulching it at the base

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Traditionally, a cloche was a glass bell jar placed over each plant.

Just remember to remove the cloche the next morning after the frost danger is over.

That’s where row covers come in.

A closed cold frame with condensation in an English garden.

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Elevated with hoops, the row cover runs the entire length of the plant row.

For a large-scale garden, it’s worthwhile investing in a set of row covers.

A full kit capable of covering 25 feet costs about $200.

Greenhouse in Backyard

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Moist soil retains more heat than dry soil.

Deeply watered soil is dense and has sufficient mass to retain more heat than dry soil.

In these cases, wrapping is the answer.

Placing a cloche on top of a plant to protect it from frost

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Zippered thermal plant container wraps cost $15 to $20 each.

A drawstring at the top lets you cinch the top of the wrap closer to the roots.

Frost cloths made from fabric-like synthetics are lightweight enough to be placed directly on top of the plants.

row covers on strawberry plants

The Spruce / K. Dave

The cloths trap heat but allow sun and air to flow through.

Instead of frost cloths, you’re free to use old sheets, blankets, or towels.

Since they’re heavier than frost cloths, they should be elevated from the plant.

Water being poured over soil area for planting moss

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Heat Banks

Place heat banks or heat retainers near the plants.

Your plants benefit from the dissipated heat.

Ideas for heat banks:

Plant Shelters

Add large sheltering structures or trees near the plants.

Plants covered with burlap for winter

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Just be careful not to block sunlight or airflow.

Phase out or reduce the number of plants easily damaged by frost.

This also helps reduce the number ofgardening tasks you oughta do before winter.

Placing a frost cover on top of a plant to protect it from frost

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

A plant exposed to frost can possibly be saved, depending on the extent of the damage.

An extended freeze, though, may rupture the plant’s cells and cause irreversible tissue damage.

Do not immediately cut off frost-damaged leaves.

Leave the damaged leaves on the plant at first.

Give the plant several days in warm weather so you might assess its health.

If the plant survives, even dead leaves can remain on the plant for insulation against future frosts.

Leaves may grow back after only a light frost.

However, wilted, droopy, or blackened leaves will not grow back.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire plant is dead.

Growth on other parts of the plant may be possible, even if certain parts are frost-damaged.

Frost and freezing temperatures and ways to protect plants.

How to Protect Plants from Frost and Freeze.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Using Row Covers in the Garden.

University of New Hampshire Extension.

The science of frost and frequently asked questions.

Government of Western Australia.

Winter Protection for Potted Trees and Shrubs.

University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

What to do with plants after a freeze.

Louisiana State University College of Agriculture.

Recognizing and Caring for Frost Damaged Plants.

Cold and Freeze Damage to Garden Plants.

Iowa State University Extension.