Freezes

Now that we are in December and the temperatures are becoming unpredictable it is advisable to have something in mind to protect plants that are sensitive to frost and freezing. Plants should be covered completely to minimize damage however in some cases such as palm trees, the foliage is the most important part and if you cannot make it all the way to the ground, then not covering the trunks is not crucial. Remember to take off the blankets in the morning if the temperature warms up or the plants are in direct sun. If the temperatures are going to remain low the following day followed by more cold or freezing nights the blanket can stay on.

Remember to water your plants well after a freeze has passed as freezing sucks moisture out of the plants. Professional grade frost blanket is available for purchase at our Garden Center. The blanket is on a 15 foot roll and you can purchase as many linear feet as you require. It is easily cut with regular scissors. Be aware though that any time fabric of any description sits on foliage, there will still be frost burn- however possibly not a dead plant! Many semi-tropical plants recover from freezes if they are well established. Be patient! If your plants suffer frost of freeze damage, DO NOT trim them right away. This will expose more of the plant to damage. Wait until March to trim, when new growth is beginning to appear. If you are part of our VIG Loyalty program and receive our Newsletter emails, then you will probably get an email to remind you that we are expecting a Hard Freeze.