Hello fellow gardeners!!! I hope this entry finds everyone warm and toasty. And, your plants, have they been warm and toasty these last couple of nights? I hear that the hill country temperature dipped quite low. A few concerned residents called The Garden Center with questions of how to protect their plants.
Well, the first thing we tell people to do is to give the (usually new) planting a good watering, if it isn’t wet enough already. The moist soil will help insulate the roots of the plant. We then introduce them to the N-Sulate sheet. It is a light, breathable fabric and it’s fabulous. We, here at this San Antonio nursery, may not freeze very often, but when we do, the perennial tables, Sago palms, Philodendrons, and a few others, are covered with De Witt’s N-Sulate.
Depending on the plant, it can be bunched up at the bottom and protect only the root ball, or covered entirely. One thing to remember, if the sheet lies on the plant and touches the leaves, the edge of the leaves may get “burned”. If a piece of bamboo or a long twig is placed in the middle of the plant in the ground or pot, then the sheet will drape over the plant rather than fall on it and weigh it down. We sell these in10x12 sheets and highly recommend them.
However, if you are strapped for cash these days, there are other ways to protect your plants without spending a dime. Use old sheets, pillow cases, blankets, even old shower curtains. DO NOT COVER WITH PLASTIC! Whatever you use, make sure it is breathable. One man told me he bunched all of his pots together, pulled an old tent out that hadn’t seen the sun in ten years, added a lamp and…ta-da-da-daaaaa….instant “greenhouse”. His citrus trees survived the 17 degree weather. A wise older woman taught us to keep those strands of Christmas lights that are half burned out. They may not look pretty in the decorations, anymore, but they do supply SOME warmth when wrapped around the plant.
Check out our website www.thegardencenter.com . And, let us know if we can help you grow with and protect your landscaping projects.
Take your shoes off and get grounded!
Stay warm, y’all!!!
Tish
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