Cold temperatures are still common in spring and can be damaging to flowering trees. However, there are some measures you can take to protect flowering trees from frost. Find out what these are in this article!
How to protect flowering trees from frost – This is a common question in spring. Yes, frost can damage tree blossoms and the potential production of those blossoms can be lost. How much your plant suffers depends on how cold the temperatures are and how long they stay that way. It also depends on the stage of flower development.
As buds swell, the trees' ability to withstand low temperatures changes. Early buds can often survive low temperatures without damage. However, as the buds develop and begin to open, temperatures as low as -6 degrees can harm them.
Here are some trees that cannot withstand low temperatures for a long time:
- peach: The peach tree is hardy enough to withstand the frost, but not the flowers that appear in spring. The flowers and young fruits of the peach tree are sensitive to temperatures below -2 degrees.
- Oleander: This small flowering tree and shrub can withstand temperatures as low as -9 degrees, but flowering is affected at these or lower temperatures.
- Citrus trees: Cold tolerance of citrus trees varies, but oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes generally cannot tolerate prolonged temperatures below 0 degrees. Frost can spoil the fruit, and prolonged frost can kill the entire citrus tree.
Unfortunately, spring frosts are almost certain every year. Here are some ways to protect flowering trees from frost.
Cover with a blanket or sheet
For most fruit trees, the most sensitive to frost or frost damage are the open flowers and the growth period immediately after the petals drop. To save your blooms, we suggest getting creative and covering the tree to protect the blooms from the icy, cold air.
Use a blanket or sheet to cover the tree and trap warm air. Make sure the cloth completely covers the tree and reaches the ground to provide adequate protection. You also don't want the material to stick to the flowers, as that could cause even more damage. You can use stakes for support.
Only leave trees and plants covered when temperatures are below zero. Remove them as soon as possible to allow pollinators to re-enter and to prevent the trees from heating up too much as the day warms up.
Overhead irrigation protects and warms the trees
Covering larger trees can be difficult. If you cannot cover them, consider overhead watering to protect your tree from ice. Overhead irrigation protects and warms trees by using the heat that water gives off as it turns from a liquid to a solid. Running water creates a layer of ice, and if you keep pouring it will slowly melt. It's the rapid thaw that causes damage. As long as the water is administered continuously and in sufficient quantities and freezes, the temperature of the plants remains constant and above freezing.
Moist soil absorbs and radiates the sun's heat better than dry soil. Therefore, you should water the soil around your trees liberally. If you can, water when temperatures are coldest, between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.
If possible, keep the area under the tree canopy free of grass and weeds, as bare soil absorbs heat better.
Tipp: You can take similar measures for small fruits and other garden plants.
Measures in the event of frost damage – what to do?
Steps to Take After a Frost – Help trees recover: Don't cut everything off right away. Wait and see what sprouts in spring. Often the damage is not as bad as it initially appears, and new growth may appear from tissue you thought was dead.
Keep your trees healthy: A healthy tree is a resilient tree. Be sure to care for your tree year-round with proper watering, fertilizing, and pruning. If you give your trees a little TLC, they will become stronger and therefore better able to defend themselves against the cold all year round.
Frost damage to plants – what measures should you take to save and prevent it?You can find out here!
