Flower Gardening

Protecting Plants from Winter Frost

By Marianne Binetti

Mulching to Protect From Frost Heave

Frost heave is when frozen soil forms cracks and breaks up into chunks. This action can actually heave normally hardy plants such as perennials and shrubs from the ground exposing their roots. Frost heave is most common in clay or poor draining soil. Improve the soil by adding compost and mulch around newly planted shrubs, trees, and perennials. Covering plants with evergreen pine, fir, or cedar boughs can also help prevent frost heave by keeping out moisture and raising the temp of the soil.

Protecting by Planting in Raised Beds

Cool air sinks. This is why gardens at the bottom of valleys and in low spots are slow to warm up in the spring. By gardening in raised beds you will be offering your plants added cold protection. Not only will the soil in raised beds drain more quickly to prevent ice crystals from forming, but the lower area around the raised bed will collect the coolest air with warmer air around the plants in the raised bed.

Protect by Adopting More House Plants

Your favorite tender plants may be able to spend the winters indoors as temporary houseplants. Tender succulents such as Echeverias, fancy leaved coleus, geraniums, and novelty patio plants such Abutilon or flowering maples can be induced to survive the winter if moved indoors or stored in a cold greenhouse. The goal during the winter months is to induce dormancy in the succulents. You also want to induce abutilon by keeping the soil dry and the room temperatures cool. When it comes to winter storage of coleus and geraniums, many gardeners enjoy these plants as houseplants in a bright window until early spring. Then cuttings are taken from the, now tall and spindly, plants. New plants are rooted and planted in fresh potting soil. They’ll be ready to go back in patio pots and planters in the spring.

Protecting by Investing in a Cold Frame or Greenhouse

Cold frames are ground level structures with a hinged glass top that can be used to store tender plants over the winter and also to grow winter vegetables. You can purchase readymade cold frames or build one of your own by recycling a used window to use as the protective covering. Investing in a home greenhouse can be as humble as ordering a plastic and metal frame that will fit against the house to protect potted plants or a free standing structure that can be heated for yearlong gardening.

However you chose to protect your plants this winter, you’ll benefit by preserving your favorite plants and looking forward to their return in the spring.

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