Frost vs. Freeze: What's the difference to plants?
Plants should be protected against damaging frosts and freezes. Credit: Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service
It's snowing outside, and my thermostat tells me it's 34 degrees, but this could only be the tip of the iceberg, so to speak: Long Island could be headed into a deep freeze this week, beginning with potentially plant-killing temperatures tonight into tomorrow morning. If you haven't already, bring in your tropicals, tender perennials, herbs and vacationing houseplants -- immediately.
What we're expecting is a freeze, not a frost. To gardeners, both terms are cautionary, although many -- even long-term, successful green thumbs -- can confuse the two. Here's the difference:
If you have trees that require winter protection, such as fig trees, cover them with a breathable fabric on a dry, cloudy day, delaying the process for a few days after rainfall, if necessary, to ensure plant parts are completely dry before wrapping. Never use plastic because it can trap moisture and encourage condensation, which could harm the plant.
Get step-by-step photo instructions and watch my video on how to wrap a fig tree here.
