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Preventing Frost Damage To Plants.

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Preventing Frost Damage To Plants.

By: Rick Skuw

A frost occurs when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees centigrade. It is harmful to plants in two ways, water is rendered unavailable to plant roots and the cells of sensitive plants are ruptured. These dangers are linked along with the severity and duration of the frost as well as the constitution of your plant, in Britain we leave our Roses unprotected over winter, but in some parts of Scadinavia and N. America straw or sacking protection is necessary.

Late spring frosts which occur after growth has started are essentially the most harmful of all. The danger signs are clear skies in the evening, a northerly wind which decreases at dusk and a settled dry period during the previous couple of days. The risk to a plant is reduced if there are hanging branches above, other plants around, heavy soil below and the coast nearby. In frost-prone areas avoid planting fruit trees and delicate shrubs. Give some form of winter protection for choice specimens.

Frost pocket: A frost pocket is an area which can be abnormally susceptible to early autumn and late spring frosts. It occurs where a dense barrier exists on a sloping site, substitute this with an open barrier which allows air through. A frost pocket is also formed in a hollow in the bottom of a sloping position.

Wind: The spectacular effects of a gale are well known, broken branches , knocked-over pots etc. But the consequences of persistent winds are less renowned, lop-sided plants due to the death of buds on the windward side, and stunted growth due to the cooling and drying effect on the growing point. On open sites a windbreak is probably necessary, but never use a solid screen. A wall or closed fence will create down-draughts on iether side and plants are going to be harmed. A hedge, on the other hand, will gently reduce wind speed for a distance of 15 - 30 times its height.

Rainfall: The typical annual rainfall is 34 inches in England. Unlike some other areas of the globe there is no distinct rainy season, but October to January is normally the wettest period. The driest region is the Thames Estuary (20 inches), the wettest spots are the mountains of Wales and Scotland (175 inches). The U.K record, however, belongs in the Lake District (275 inches) in 1954 at Springkling Tarn.

A drought is a period of 15 consecutive days with no measurable rainfall, and droughts do occur at fairly regular intervals in Britain. Thorough watering is important at such times, otherwise plants will suffer or die. Snow is a mixed blessing, a blanket of snow can protect plants which might otherwise be affected by arctic-like winds, but heavy snowfalls can damage or break the branches of evergreens.

Altitude: The height of your garden has an effect on the general climate. For each 600 ft. increase in altitude, an average annual temperature falls by 2 degrees and the start of the growing season is delayed by 3 days. Solar energy decreases while both rainfall and wing speed increase.

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An amazing amount of my time is spent in my garden, but as I am getting older and things are getting harder to do. I have decided to use a firm called Landscape Gardeners. Up to now they have given me all the help and advice that I have asked for. I still do a bit of pottering around my own garden.

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