Protecting Your Plants In Winter

 Winters can have a negative impact on the plants growth and health depending on the temperatures. Frost is definitely devastating to most vegetables and fruits and sometimes even a single night of frost can leave its scars on your plants. Temperatures below 50℉ can slow the growth of many plants. So, what to do when the temperatures dip too low for plants to survive. Well, a number of solutions can be adopted to provide your plants with the much needed warmth depending upon whether they are potted plants or not. 





1. Build A Greenhouse

If you are a regular grower of vegetables or fruits you might want to consider building a green house. A greenhouse is able to capture and trap some of the sunlight and at the same time providing plant with warmth. At night the temperature difference between outside and inside the greenhouse can be significant. You can build green house using transparent plastic sheets, shade cloths or glass windows. Each have their own usability and cost. The best site for greenhouse is under full sun. 

2. Build Hoop houses

If you have plants arranged in the form of rows then the best solution is to build hoop houses. In hoop houses plants are covered with a plastic sheet or shade cloth in the form of rows. The shade is supported by hoops after some distance. This is really helpful for plants in your raised bed. 




3. Bring Your Potted Plants Inside

The simplest solution involving potted plants is to bring them inside. Place them near a sunny window as they need it to photosynthesize their food. Before bringing them in, inspect for any sign of disease or pests as they can easily be spread to other nearby indoor plants. If the plant is diseased and pest ridden beyond repair it is best to let it go. 

4. Wrapping Trees

If you have trees in your garden then wrapping a fabric sheet or cloth can prevent frost damage. A burlap covering is more effective in this regard. Use multiple layers of covering around the tree trunks and go as high as you can. 

5. Water During The Day

Water can hold heat and prevent root damage. Water during the day so that it warms up in sun. During night this heat will be released back to warm up plants. Using a typical room temperature water at 80℉ (26℃) is recommended. It will help retain more heat the soil. 




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