Frost Damage Prevention Ideas?
shadetreetim
16 years ago
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ballyhoobill
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Frost Damage prevention.
Comments (5)Beeman, Sprayable products for frost prevention can get pretty dicey. On the one hand there is ice nucleating bacteria that increase frost damage at frost marginal temperatures. As I understand it, these bacteria cause ice crystals to form, at a slightly higher temperature, than would otherwise occur. One product I know of KOCIDE 3000 is labeled to target these bacteria, and so may provide some minimal frost protection, if sprayed before a frost event. Other products claim they have some inherent ability to keep water from freezing in the plant cells. A sort of "cellular anti-freeze". I'm very skeptical of these claims for several reasons. First, the product is supposed to be absorbed in the plant tissues to work. However, when they are sprayed before a frost event, temperatures are generally already pretty cold, and the plants metabolic processes have shut down. So how is this product supposed to be tranlocated in the cells? Secondly, I tried a product called KDL that claimed it would provide up to 5 degrees F of frost protection. It also had the support of some people I knew. I tried it for several years, and if anything the trees treated with KDL fared worse than untreated trees. I tried it at different dosages, and got the same result. Lastly, Chris Doll a recognized commercial fruit expert out of IL, mentioned this topic a couple years ago in the IL Fruit Newsletter. He said over the years, he'd tried three of these sprayable type frost protectants and none of them worked. If they really worked, commercial growers would be on top of this in a NY minute. Until the manufactures of these products can produce some legitimate peer reviewed research, or are labeled by the EPA for frost protection, I wouldn't waste my money....See MorePreventing Frost Damage
Comments (14)Will hosta be okay if they're still tightly furled? ===>>>> it depends on how cold ... what basically happens.. is that individual cells form ice crystals.. and burst ... a light frost ... might just leave a leaf speckled.. as only a few cells burst .. and you will notice it a week or two later.. when those cells turn brown ... and in this case.. only the outer leaves would be affected ... in a hard frost/freeze .. the entire plant is decimated ... though it can and will releaf ... once that bud that overwintered ... start elongating.. and pumping water into the cells.. there is the potential for damage ... we usually play the game somewhere in between .... if you dont want to worry.. you protect them all, as best you can .. and then satisfy yourself .. that you did the best you could ... or you take my zen approach.. with full knowledge that mother nature is a witch ... and whatever happens.. happens.. and all i can do about it .. rhymes with witch ... you have to become you inner farmer.. never happy with what the witch throws at you ... too wet.. too dry.. too cloudy.. too cold.. too hot.. too much drought.. etc ... ken...See MoreWould a high powered fan prevent FROST?
Comments (14)The only thing I can say would work with the size of that palm is to make a tube around it with fencing or what ever use blankets or something that would provide some insulation and use spot lights or a few strands of x-mas lights like c-7,it would definitely keep it nice and warm,big job for a palm that size. The helicopter thing is commonly done in orange groves as the coldest air sits at gound level and blades that size can move alot of air down and push the cold aside temperarily,not really practicle for a home owner-...See MoreSpraying water on foliage to prevent frost
Comments (1)Hi It works to a point . If the frost turns into a freeze the water will do more damage than the cold.Also of course ,the duration of the frost matters also. The best cold protection I've used is covering with frostcloth and putting Christmas tree lights inside..Will raise the temps several degrees. I suspect with banana you'd be better off letting it get nipped and concentrate on mulch around the roots . It will resprout when the weather stabilizes. gary...See Moresultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
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