Well, I know I already brought my lemon tree in,
but today's cold snap might leave a lot of plant
owners wondering how to protect your plants or prevent them
from dying as we head into the winter months.
News 13 Savannah Denton shares some cold weather tips tonight
from local nursery and landscape experts.
I spoke with experts at Champion Nursery and Landscaping who
say a cold snap like today isn't something plant owners
need to worry a whole bunch about,
but is a good reminder of what you should do
now to prepare and prevent your plants from dying in
the colder temperatures.
The winter season brings frost,
dry air and limited sunlight which can be tough on
plants and cause leaf and tissue damage.
And unlike humans, you can't just put a jacket on
your plants to keep them warm.
But Howard and Jake McPherson each share 1 trick you
can use to prevent frost from getting to your plants.
Good thing to do is add about 3 to 5
inches of mulch all around the base of the plant
that acts as a blanket and keeps the roots warm
£2.00 of Epsom salt and mix it in a 5
gallon bucket with warm water and pour it around the
base of the plant.
So that it would absorb into the soil and into
the plant and protect it from freezing.
Say it's important to do research on your plants and
to understand how each reacts to the colder temperatures.
When temperatures are below 40 degrees,
it can only take 12 to 24 hours for most
plants to freeze.
You know if you go up to the branch and
it snaps off,
that means that the branch either froze and it's dead,
or if you'll see flaking on the on the branch
where it the water inside the plant froze,
it expanded, and now it's contracting during colder temperatures.
Howard recommends bringing your potted plants inside and to use
bubble wrap or burlap to protect your outside plants.
Burlap. Will protect it from frost.
The bubble wrap will actually give it more photosynthesis,
with the sun beating on the plastic and warming the
plant up.
The Mcpherson's emphasize that winter doesn't mean hiatus for your
gardening adventures.
With a little knowledge and care,
you can ensure that your plants not only survive,
but thrive during the colder months.
Reporting in Murrells Inlet, Savannah Denton News 13.