covering plants in the cold???

[danchez]

my girlfriend thinks we should cover the bushes tonight and leave them covered for the next few days. Neither of us know what kind of bushes we have out front. Is it really necessary to cover them?!?

Come on green thumbs, help me out.

[L Stegall]

I've already killed my plants on my patio, so I'm probably no help, but I've never covered up any established bushes or shrubs in my yard and they've survived.

Signed,

Not a green thumb (obviously).

[ronocnikral]

i really don't know what plants you have either. but, they can freeze and die. if you want to be the coolest cat on the block, wrap your most likely freshly packed, christmas lights around what ever you feel will freeze, plug in, leave. the lights will provide plenty of warmth.

[texkam]

Covering might buy you a couple of degrees difference. It will also offer protection from the cold drying winds. Couldn't hurt, but may not make much of a difference it when it's this cold. The idea is to trap some of the ground's heat. It's more for protecting tender plants on those marginal nights (spring and fall). These won't be marginal nights. I have a small palm that I will cover and place a light bulb under for some added warmth, but it's unrealistic to do this to all my shrubs. Good luck.

Do not use plastic.

[Digigeek]

Depends on the plants. The best thing you can do is give them a good ground soaking before the freeze. It's my understanding that the roots do better frozen in water since frozen water never gets below 32 that they do getting frozen while dry. Letting the plants dry out when temps go below 30 will cause problems. We have extensive landscaping and have never had a problem following that plan. Some plants however are sensitive to cold temps, but we try to avoid those here.

Potted plants will die quicker because they are not protected by the ground warmth.

If you have cold tender plants exposed to the north side of the house or north winds, I would cover them. Our most sensitive are shielded from the north wind by design.

My neighbors use hallogen shop lights to keep the trunks of their palms warm and wrap them in burlap. They seem to do well.

[Jim Victory]

As pointed out above making sure the roots are wet is the best thing you can do for bushes and trees.

[picman]

Darwin

[texkam]

Darwin

+1. We should learn the virtues of native plants. Starting with builders.

[toverman]

Originally Posted by texkam

+1. We should learn the virtues of native plants. Starting with builders.

+2. Then nobody would really need in-ground irrigation, either.

However, the Canadian air upon us is NOT native, so covering the bushes would (or would have) been a cheap safety precaution. We don't often get this cold.

[texkam]

+2. Then nobody would really need in-ground irrigation, either.

Pet peeve = needless irrigation. Brown can be beautiful.