It happens every year, but are we ready for it? The unseasonably warm weather that we've been graced with lately has a lot of our plants very well developed and perhaps particularly susceptible to damage, especially regarding bud drop.

One thing that I do is to hook up my garden hoses. I've found that if I spray the frost off of my plants first thing in the morning before the sun hits the leaves, that frost damage is usually lessened.

So, if there are few plants that you're particularly worried about in the next few (predicted to be frosty) days, you might give it a try. I'll be blasting everything that the hose spray will reach for the next few mornings.

Does anyone else employ this method?

[Edited to add - please read additional posts in this thread before trying this method on your plants. The above post is only one person's observation and experience. Conditions and results in your garden may vary.]

Chelle there was a nursery on our local news today that uses watering as a Frost Protection Method. They water the garden thoroughly before nightfall. The soil will release moisture into the air around your plants during the night, keeping the air somewhat warmer. Might best be left to the professionals. I would be afraid to try it in my garden. I have decided not to cover everything with sheets and if it does frost I am going to give your method a try.

Okay.

Perhaps it would be best to save this method for the professionals.

Again down to 28 this morning I am afraid to go look
Yesterday was bad enough . Ferns, Hostas and Lilies all took it the worst

Water in a container inside the seedling springhouse had a film of ice this morning; that's a first, at least with this latest batch of cold nights. I forgot to put a few trays of seedlings under cover last night; uh-oh.

What kind of lilies are those, Cinda? Will they still bloom?

They are Asiatic lilies and I am not sure
The oriental look worse their stems are drooping , so I guess they are goners.

I'm so sorry.


Our early-rising orange lilies get blackened every spring, but they still flower. They look like they're an Asiatic type, so there may yet be hope.

The lilies may not bloom this year but the bulb will survive and grow next year.

I hope not to forget where they are and plant over them.

An oldie but goodie.
Some of the old threads are interesting.