How To Protect Your Garden from the Cold

Sometimes, nature hits without warning. You could find yourself sitting outside enjoying the heat one day and fighting off the frost the next. When this happens, you need to know exactly what to do to protect your garden. You’ve worked hard to keep it healthy and thriving, and you don’t want to lose it all in one night. Here are some ways you can protect your plants from the cold.

Cover Individual Plants

When your plants are still small, and a cold snap comes through, you can cover them with a cloche to protect them. You could use old water or milk jugs with the bottoms cut off. Whatever you use, you want to make sure that the plants aren’t squished inside the cover.

For large areas of plants, cover them with an old blanket or towel. Place stakes throughout the plants so that the cover creates more of a tent-like structure. Then, secure the cover on the sides to help keep as much warmth in as possible.

Lay Down Mulch

Mulch is a gardener’s best friend. It not only helps keep the weeds from popping up, but it also helps protect your plants from sudden temperature changes. You can use leaves, straw, or wood chips for the mulch. For the best protection, you should lay down about 4 to 6 inches of mulching Auburn AL. Also, make sure you leave about an inch of space between the mulch and the plant’s stalk, so the heat from the ground can make its way up the plant.

Bring In Potted Plants

Potted plants are much more susceptible to the cold because they have less protection. Because of that, they can freeze much easier than plants in the ground. When you know that you’re going to have a cold night, move your potted plants inside your home or a shed or move them directly next to the house under a patio cover.