Gardens are wonderful places that can provide us with beauty, relaxation and fresh fruits and vegetables. But in order to have a successful garden, we need to take care of our plants and make sure they're protected from the elements.
One of the biggest threats to our plants is frost. Frost can damage or even kill our plants, which is why it's so important to take steps to protect them. One of the best ways to do this is by using frost covers.
There are many different types of frost covers available on the market, so it's important to choose the right one for your plants. In this blog post, we'll discuss what frost covers are? why they're important? and how to choose the right one for your garden.
What is Frost Protection Cover?
Frost Protection cover is protective shield against the potential damage that can be caused by frost. This type of cover is important for farmers, as it can help to protect their crops against the cold weather.
Frost protection cover can be bought as an add-on to an existing plant cover, or as a standalone shield. The cover can be used to protect a wide range of crops, including fruit, vegetables, flowers and trees.
The cover cut down the chances of loss of crop caused by frost damage. This is particularly important for farmers who rely on their crops for their livelihood.
Frost protection cover is not just for farmers, however. It can also be useful for homeowners who have gardens, or for businesses that have outdoor areas that could be damaged by frost.
If you are interested in buying frost protection cover, then you should speak to your insurance broker. They will be able to advise you on the best way to protect your property against the risk of frost damage.
Why is Frost protection cover used?
Frost protection cover is among the most underrated pieces of agricultural equipment. It is often used to protect plants, fruits, and vegetables from the cold weather, frost, and ice. However, it can also be used to protect plants from excessive heat and direct sunlight.
There are many reasons why you might need to use a frost protection cover. For instance, if you are in a cold climate and the temperature is expected to drop below freezing, you will need to use a frost protection cover to protect your plants. Frost can kill plants and damage their foliage.
Similarly, if you are in a hot climate and the temperature is expected to exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need to use a frost protection cover to protect your plants. Excessive heat can cause plants to wilt and die.
In addition, frost protection covers can be used to protect plants from direct sunlight. This is particularly important if you are growing plants in a greenhouse. Direct sunlight can cause plants to burn and wilt.
Why is it important to protect your plants against frost?
When the temperature drops low enough to freeze the moisture in plant leaves and buds, the plant's cell walls shatter and it dies. Frost threat typically happens on still, clear, and cold nights. While some plants require protection, others are resistant and unaffected by extreme frost.
The first significant frost typically occurs between mid- and late May in most regions of the country, but this can and will vary, so it's important to be ready and put your frost protection measures in place in advance.
You must cover plants to stop the moisture from freezing in order to protect them from cold. It's crucial to utilise the proper materials, even though an unexpected frost might leave many gardeners baffled about what to use as protection for their plants.
How to use Frost Protection Covers
- Cover the plant entirely, from the top to the bottom.
- To ensure that the fabric captures the heat generated in the earth during the day, apply it just before sunset.
- Leave no gaps in the cloth where warm air could escape or where chilly air could enter at night.
- It is essential that the frost cloth extends from the drip line of the plant to the ground.
It will be possible to ensure that the fabric forms a seal with the ground and holds the warm air that radiates from the soil and is captured during the day by placing a heavy object, such as bricks, or fixing the fabric into the ground with frost fabric staples. The bricks or staples will also keep the fabric in place in the event of strong winds and/or rain, lowering the likelihood that it may fly away.
WHEN TO USE A FROST BLANKET
Frost blankets are applied in a variety of ways by growers. They provide chances for season extension with the least amount of infrastructure by
- protecting late-season crops against frost.
- defending crops from springtime frosts.
- Boosting the development of cool-season annuals that overwintered.
- preventing birds from eating newly planted seeds and boosting germination rates by maintaining moist soil.
- preventing squirrels and other garden pests from eating freshly sprouting seedlings in outside rows.
Different Types Of FrostWraps
- Row Cover
Row coverings for the garden come in two different types: fleece and plastic. In addition to protecting frost-sensitive plants, fleece covers are porous and allow moisture to enter. Because clear plastic produces a greenhouse-like effect, temperatures under plastic row covers can often be substantially higher than outdoors.
Both can be used by gardeners to lengthen the growth season, although plastic performs best in really cold locations. To guarantee that plants are not overheated, you must check on them frequently. Keep in mind that both types of covers require anchoring with pegs, pebbles, or clips.
Best For: increasing the planting season and safeguarding food crops
- Tree Wrap
Think of a mummy. Imagine the young, thin-barked trees in your yard being wrapped, as if they were going to be laid to rest forever. Tree wraps are thin strips of paper, cloth, or burlap wound around the trunks of trees to protect them against dangerously quick freezing and thawing cycles.
Additionally, wraps can deter animals and stop rodent and other pest damage. The wraps are often put on by gardeners at the conclusion of the growing season and taken off in the spring. However, some people like to leave them on constantly for security. Wraps come particularly handy for shielding newly planted trees from the erratic winter weather when they are still fragile and weak.
Best For: Protecting young trees and trees with thin bark
- Burlap
Burlap can shield shrubs and trees from the severe winter weather and prevent them from suffering from the dreaded winter burn. Winter burn, which can turn foliage brown and negatively impact a plant's look and general health, can occur when evergreen plants receive too much sun and don't have adequate access to moisture during the cold months. Burlap is rather simple to use, affordable, and breathable.
The ideal method is to create a tent-like structure with wooden stakes so that the burlap doesn't really touch the plants. This keeps the cover from blowing away in the wind and stops wet burlap from freezing and harming the foliage.
Best For: preventing winter burn on tiny trees and bushes
- Mulch
One of the garden's most adaptable plant protection techniques is mulch. It keeps the soil cold during warm weather. Mulch helps protect plant roots from the cold when the weather gets chilly. Mulch also aids in moisture retention and decreases the demand for irrigation. As organic mulches decompose over time, they may potentially increase soil quality.
Mulch should not be spread out too thickly when used. Add a layer around the plant's base that is no thicker than 4 inches. Plants can suffocate from too much mulch. What can be utilised as mulch? There are several reliable possibilities, including raked autumn leaves, coco coir, compost, wood chips, straw, shredded paper, and even gravel.
Best For: minimally protected perennials from cold weather
- Pop-Up Greenhouse
Pop-up greenhouses are transient plastic constructions made to resemble a greenhouse. Pop-up units are more susceptible to weather events like wind and snow than permanent constructions are. They work best in hot climates with less wind. A pop-up greenhouse also makes a great place to start seeds or harden off plants in preparation for spring when it is positioned in a protected area.
Best For: Mild climates and starting seeds in the spring
Conclusion
Frost protection covers are used to protect garden plants and young trees from frost damage. Frost blanket is a type of frost protection cover that is placed over plants to provide insulation and prevent frost damage. Frost protection covers are important because they can help prevent plant damage and death due to frost. To use a frost protection cover, simply place it over the affected plants. Make sure to remove the frost protection cover when the danger of frost has passed.