Frost Damage
Frost Damage .jpeg) Tender vegetation is most susceptible to frost damage. Normally hardy plants can also be damaged if a hard frost follows a period of warm weather that has encouraged new growth., or if a frost occurs in the late spring or summer. Plants that receive early morning sun, which melts the frost quickly, are also vulnerable.Susceptible Plants- Most all plants, flowers and fruit trees Symptoms- Frost damage symptoms appear overnight and may affect many unrelated plants. Flowers and buds are discolored, usually brown. Frosted blooms may not produce fruit. Leaves and stems turn brown or black, young growth toward the outside of the plant will be most affected. Apple skins may be russeted, usually at the flowering end of the fruit opposite the stalk. Frost damage may not be noticed until the fruit has developed. Prevention and Control- When a frost is predicted the following steps may help minimize or eliminate potential frostdamage. Water the garden thoroughly before nightfall. The soil will release moisture into the air around your plants during the night, keep the air somewhat warmer. Even a slight breeze will prevent cold air from settling near the ground during the night. You can help keep frost from forming by providing this breeze artificially with an electric fan. Cover up before dusk! By the time it gets dark much of the stored heat in the garden has already been lost. For smaller individual plants you can use glass jars, milk jugs with the bottom removed, paper cups upside down flower pots as heat traps.Container plants are particularly susceptible to frosts because the roots are also unprotected. If you are unable to move your container plants indoors or under cover remember to also wrap the pot in a medium frost protection plant cover
If your efforts were too late, or too little to protect your plants from frost damage resist the urge to cut off the damaged parts of the plants. To a certain extent, these dead leaves and stems will provide limited insulation from further frost damage. You will have to go back and re prune your plants in spring anyway. Try to avoid planting tender plants until after the danger of frost has past.
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