How to protect your garden from frost and cold weather | Gardening 101 | Gardening Australia
Hannah Moloney helps us understand frost and shares some practical solutions to keep the garden protected. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
Frost Facts:
Frost occurs when temperatures fall below 0°C at night and moisture in the air or ground turns into ice. Likely frost conditions are a still night with clear skies and low humidity. Frost damage happens when the water stored inside plant tissues and cells freeze. The worst damage is usually the next day when plants thaw out too quickly from being heated by the early morning sun. Frost warnings are categorised as light, moderate or heavy, which refers to how cold it will get, and how severe the damage could be. So, what can you do about frost?
Plant frost-hardy plants:
In cooler parts of Australia, frost-hardy crops include broad beans, garlic, spring onion and different types of brassicas. Perennials such as artichokes and deciduous fruit trees are also quite tolerant of frosts. Generally, younger leaves on seedlings and new growth are less tolerant.
Consider Timing:
In most of Tasmania and the Alpine regions of New South Wales and Victoria, frosts can happen well into spring. Compared to more temperate regions, there are different planting schedules and methods to avoid losses. In Tasmania, if you plant tomato seedlings out in the garden in September, they could be completely wiped out after one cold night. Hannah suggests cool-climate gardeners wait another month until around late October or early November before starting frost-sensitive “spring planting”.
Plan Where You Plant:
A practical way to protect your plants is to make use of microclimates. Shelter less-hardy species under a tree canopy or plant on higher, warmer points in the garden as frosts are often worse in low-lying areas.
Water Well:
It may seem contradictory to add more water but a healthier plant, that isn’t drought stressed when frost hits, is more likely to survive. Also, more water in the soil means more warmth in the soil, so it will take longer to freeze.
Delay Mulch:
Leave soil uncovered and wait to mulch until frosts are over. Darker-coloured soil can soak up the sun and retain more heat at night, so it is less likely to get as cold.
Cover Overnight:
Even frost-hardy plants can benefit from protection. Cover plants overnight with cardboard boxes or bed sheets. When using fabric, Hannah suggests propping it up with plastic pots to protect plants from the weight of the sheet, and to anchor edges down with rocks. In areas with prolonged frost exposure, consider something semi-permanent. Hannah uses polypipe to create a dome over the bed, which can be covered with shade cloth or plastic. Seedlings grown in a greenhouse or cold frame can be transplanted outside after the last risk of frost. Wildlife-safe netting over fruit trees also works a treat.
Frosts aren't all bad. Low temperatures can kill or slow pests and pathogens, which means you get a break from having to deal with them. Some plants thrive in cold conditions, and you can too, by getting to know your region's climate and using the right protection and growing methods for your garden.
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