Freezes and Plants

I was sent an article written by Skip Richter, Travis County Extension Director from my TX homesteaders group about plants and freezes and what you can do about it. 

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/docs/FrostsandFreezes.pdf 

Here in TX our freezes are few, so if we do the right things, we might be able to save our plants that might otherwise die from the cold.

1.  Watering right before a freeze creates a source of warmth.
2.  A blanket wrapped around a bush or plant does almost nothing because the warmth comes from the ground. A plant/bush/tree draped with a blanket over the top to the ground and then weighted down will retain much more heat.  You can also use a cardboard box or large garbage can.
3.  Remove the covers the next day to allow the sun to warm the soil around the plant and recover in evening
4.  Plastic sheeting or materials that radiate heat out quickly will actually freeze the plant where it touches them
5.  Plastic IS good if it covers the plant and then is covered with a blanket to trap the warmth
6.  Another way to add heat is to add a container of water (5 gallon buckets work great), under the cover with the plant.  If the plant is small place 1 or 2 milk jugs right up next to the plant and cover.
7.  Add a heat source under the cover such as a mechanics light, but don't allow it to actually touch the plant
8.  Mulch with hay, bark, etc., around tender perennials, but be careful not to smother them
9.  Citrus growers can mound up a cone of soil (sand or sandy loam) around the base of the tree, being careful to pull back away after danger of frost is past to avoid rot.
10.  Put container plants in garage or cover with blankets.

Now, aren't we all just a little smarter?  :)  Pam