Friday, December 3, 2010

Protect Your Plants in Cold Weather

What to Do During the Freeze

photo from www.realcoolpics.blogspot.com

Ornamental plants can be protected during a freeze by sprinkling the plants with water. Sprinkling for cold protection helps keep leaf surface temperatures near 32°F (0°C) because sprinkling utilizes latent heat released when water changes from a liquid to a solid state. Sprinkling must begin as freezing temperatures are reached and continue until thawing is completed.

 Water must be evenly distributed and supplied in ample quantity to maintain a film of liquid water on the foliage surfaces. Irrigation for several days may water soak the soil resulting in damaged root systems and/or plant breakage due to ice build up.

Also visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG02500.pdf

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