Late Spring Freeze: The Handyman and Homeowner Guide to Protecting Outdoor Landscaping
Late Spring Freeze: The Handyman and Homeowner Guide to Protecting Outdoor Landscaping in Maryland.
What the homeowner should do with a late Spring Freeze/ Frost.
Baltimore, MD: Tonight (April 7th, 2017) and into Saturday morning, forecasters are calling for freezing temperatures possible throughout Central Maryland*. With the warm weather the past few days, many of us in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. have already begun outdoors landscaping for Spring. With a semi-rare Freeze Watch in place, there are a few measures that homeowners should take to help plants survive.
The issue with a cold freeze and some plants is the inability for vegetable and flowers to withstand freezing water on a cellular level. As we know, when water freezes it expands and can break the sensitive cell structures. For certain plants, this is irreparable damage.
Here is a quick reference on what you can do to prevent damage:
1: Sensitive plants in pots: Bring indoors.
2. Sensitive plants/ bushes/ seedlings in the ground:
- Water plant base thoroughly during daylight hours, DO NOT let water rest on leaves.
The (above freezing) water and dirt will act as an insulator and allow the plants to absorb
water before freezing which makes them more durable.
- Cover heartier bushes/ plants with a towels. Use a bed sheet for those that are weaker.
DO NOT USE PLASTIC.
- Seedlings or extremely delicate foliage can be semi-protected by building a tent around
the plant or even using stakes and creating a barrier (think castle walls).
3. Sensitive Seedlings: For seedlings that are extremely weak and vulnerable. Water the ground thoroughly (to act as an insulator, not wetting the plant), then cover with an inverted bucket or flower pot.
4. Seeds/ Bulbs: If the seed has not yet sprouted, water thoroughly then cover with a towel, bed sheet, or blanket.
Remember: DO NOT water after dark or once temperatures drop below 37 - 40 degrees. By this point, the sensitive plants have already begun "emergency mode" and the water will not provide the boost in protection. In some cases you may have seen orange growers in Florida water the entire plant. This is an entirely different practice which involves constant watering during the event. Do not try this unless you are confident and have researched that method specifically.
After the risk of cold has passed, remove covering to allow the sun to start working. Assess the damage and if pruning is possible (depends on plant), you can cut any damaged area to stimulate new growth.
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Covered Vegetable garden Pre-Frost
Ghosts! Or covered and wrapped plants, Pre-Frost.
Carroll-Northern Baltimore-Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-
Northwest Harford-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-
Orange-Culpeper-Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-
Western Loudoun-
Including the cities of Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown,
Cockeysville, Germantown, Damascus, Laurel, Lisbon, Jarrettsville,
Lovingston, Charlottesville, Stanardsville, Madison, Washington,
Orange, Gordonsville, Culpeper, Warrenton, Turnbull, Towson, Timonium, White Marsh, Reistertown, Columbia, Ellicott City, Frederick,
and Purcellville.
Precaution areas include: Rockville, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, College park, Takoma Park, Hyattsville, Washington D.C. and Gaithersburg.
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