PHOENIX — Temperatures are about to get chilly all across the Valley. Certain areas are expected to be at or below freezing so people are getting ready to bundle up. It also means they're doing what they can to protect plants from the frost.
"You want to protect them, so you don't lose your investment," Bradley Howard said. "If the frost gets to it there's a good chance it could kill it and you've lost that 5–10-year growth on your property."
Howard is the General Manager at Moon Valley Nursery on North 7th Street in Phoenix. He has been watching the forecast closely and is getting ready for the few nights when the temperature is expected to drop.
"What will happen is you'll have a green plant and then wake up the next day and the leaves are really dark purple so that's a sign of almost frostbite for plants," Howard said. "You also could see a heavy drop of all the foliage."
Howard says there are plenty of easy ways to help make sure your plants don't get to that point, and if you're in an area that's expected to be near freezing it's a good idea to protect them.
"You actually have quite a few options," Howard said. "We have a product called 'Wilt Stop' that'll coat your leaves. It'll create a protective layer that'll trap in the moisture and keep a barrier from the frost."
If the plant is moveable, one can choose to bring the plant inside the home or place it in a shed. People can also drape a 'Frost Cloth' over the tree, shrub or cactus. Adding a few inches of mulch can help insulate roots and making sure your landscape is well-watered is also beneficial.
"You really want to water right before the sun comes up," Howard said. "It'll create a micro-climate and it'll move the air around which is key. You definitely want to spray the ground. Stay away from the foliage because it'll create a lot of moisture and you'll likely increase the chances of freezing it if you're actively spraying the tree, plant or cacti."
Those with a cactus they'd like to help protect can help by placing Styrofoam cups on the tips. It's also important to not mess with any type of plant until temperatures start to warm up. Another thing to avoid is using any type of plastic garbage bag as a cover.
"It'll actually suffocate the plant," Howard said. "If you are trying to do a homemade remedy it needs to be cloth, not a plastic. You also don't want it to touch the plant so you could engineer some sticks or a structure around it."
Howard also says if there's any uncertainty about whether or not a plant should be protected, it never hurts to just go ahead and be proactive. That way the plant will stay happy and healthy no matter how cold it gets.
"Anytime you're close to that freezing mark you want to stay on top of it for sure," Howard said.
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