Homeowner plant flowers, shrubs and trees that can survive in their garden during typical Florida weather. What can homeowners do when the weather is colder than normal? Here are 5 tips to protecting plants during cooler weather.
- Bring Potted Plants Inside
Potted plants are much more susceptible to root damage in colder temperatures. Choose a place that isn’t too warm – as sudden changes in temperature can shock plants – such as a spot in your garage or shed.
- Water Plants in the Afternoon
Keeping the soil moist can help protect plants from the cold. Moist soil has an insulating effect, which radiates heat upward come nightfall.
- Add a Thick Layer of Mulch
Adding a layer of mulch to your garden beds will help protect the soil from sudden swings in temperature. You can use wood chips or even just a heap of leaves to provide insulation for the plants’ root systems below ground. Usually between 3 to 6 inches in depth is sufficient.
- Give them a Blanket
To protect a larger group of plants, simply cover them up with blankets, bed sheets, towels, or drop cloths. Create a tent-like structure which allows the material to drape over the plants all the way to the soil line. This acts like insulation, keeping warm air from the ground around the plant.
- Wrap Fruit Trees
Most fruit trees have thin barks that are susceptible to splitting when temperatures start to get colder than normal. Tree wrap will prevent this splitting. Try also extending the wrap all the way to the ground and at least as high up as the lower limbs or branches.