For growers, farmers, and gardeners living in four-season countries, one of the most difficult challenges to deal with is frost. Not only does it damage the growth of the plant, but it can also adversely affect soil fertility. For that reason, people living in such areas often try to look into references that talk about orchard frost prevention, frost protection, orchard frost protection to help them cope with the freezing temperatures. Let us then begin the discussion by defining what frost is to avoid misconception as people from different backgrounds often define frost differently.
Frost is closely related to freezing temperatures as it is one of the most apparent results. A freeze happens when the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius or thirty-two degree Fahrenheit. When this happens, the plant cells that constantly require heat burst, and it leads to fatal damages. One empirical sign that a plant is internally damaged due to the frost is the plant becomes shriveled. Thus, it is vital to prevent it from happening.
Covering the Plants
The most famous method for people living in four-season countries is to cover their plants with a layer of the sheet. Amazingly, almost anything works for this method, from blanket to sacks. This method works by retaining the heat before the frost strikes and lock it up around the plants. What you need to do is to put a cover all over the plant. Sometimes, it requires some types of support to support the cover if it is heavy the avoid crushing the plants. However, when the sheet layer is light enough, you just need to put it all over the plant to the ground. For this reason, keeping up with the weather updates is also vital as it will help you determine the best time to start wrapping the plants.
Frost that happens only at one specific moment may only require you to cover your planting beds with a sheet. However, in areas where the winters are harsh to grow plants, cold frames are what you need to help your plants survive the freezing temperatures. Although it is available in stores, D-I-Y projects are still an option for many. Using cinder blocks or bricks for the main structure is what people usually do while an old storm window is necessary to cover the top part of the plants. Do not forget to check the plants during the low temperatures regularly.