In areas where a late spring frost or even an early hard frost can threaten garden plants, homeowners struggle with the best way to protect them. The weather is unpredictable even in those areas where plants suitable for their growing zone have been planted. You can protect plants from frost if you are both prepared and aware of the pending weather.

The plants most vulnerable to frost are soft woods, actively growing bloomers, and potted plants. The greatest threat of frost usually occurs overnight when the temperature drops enough to freeze the moisture on plant leaves and buds. The signs of frost damage are usually visible within two to three days and are included blackened leaves or mushy leaves and buds. To protect plants from frost, you will need to cover them to keep the moisture from freezing.

Many people mistakenly use plastic to protect plants from frost and while this can be effective, it is a practice that some expert gardeners warn against. Plastic or vinyl materials do not breathe, but rather trap moisture inside. If the temperature drops low enough, the increase in moisture presents a greater threat to the plants if it should freeze. Instead of plastic, try using burlap, linen, or newspaper as a covering to protect plants from frost.

A fabric covering will allow moisture to escape, but will still protect plants from frost by preventing the freezing air from coming into direct contact with the moisture. Bed sheets are an excellent choice for covering large plants and shrubs as well as tender sprouts. Newspaper can be used on low-growing sprouts, but obviously won’t work well for larger plants.

In a pinch, you can use plastic to protect plants from frost, but be sure to remove the plastic covers early in the morning to let the increasingly warmer daytime air reach the plants. If the threat of frost is prolonging and temperatures remain low during the day, be sure to use a fabric covering. When there is a threat of frost, cover your plants before sunset.

You can also purchase commercial coverings designed to protect plants from frost and though these may be more aesthetically pleasing than other methods, in most cases, bed sheets and burlap work just as well. If your efforts to protect plants from frost fail or you simply forget, you will have to allow nature to take its course. Early spring flowers like the daffodil, tulip, and crocus, may be damaged for the current season, but should return unscathed in subsequent springs.

Depending on the weather, some plants may peek out earlier than normal only to be threatened by a late frost. In some cases, they will bud again but many times they will die and you’ll have to start over. Typically, the more established a plant is, the better it will fare. If you have vulnerable plants that would be expensive to replace, it’s best to try to protect them if you can.