Oh My, Freeze Last Night

12 years ago

After using every bucket, pot, pan, sheet, towel, beach towel, I ran I out of things to cover up some of my hostas.

My DH got the wonderful idea of leaving our misting sprinkler system on over night. I was horrified to wake up this morning and see the entire garden covered in ice. He said it was a good thing, something about an igloo.

What this a smart move on his part, or should I never listen to him again?

Gesila

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Comments (12)

franknjim
12 years ago
Ouch! I have read that it is one of the things that citrus growers do to protect from freezes. Time will tell. I am hoping that it does work for you.
Babka NorCal 9b
12 years ago
How about fans to keep the air moving so that frost won't form on the leaves? That might work for smaller confined areas. The vineyards up in Napa have great big ones to keep their acres of grapes unfrosted.

-Babka
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Rita, That is what we all miss, isn't it? I have been very surprised at the daylilies. I am not surprised with new ones, and I pinch those scapes out. Emerald Starburtst and Red Slippers both put up new scapes, but to have an established one do it is different to say the least. I actually have a few places for spring...usually with plants I intended to SP and didn't get around to. The hard freeze we had bit back the zinnias in the iris bed, but didn't kill them. The big ones from last year succomed to it, and I have pulled them up and thrown them on the burn pile. They are total seed factories! The duranta erectas were not hurt by the frost which was unexpected. I had covered the one in the pot, and plan to move it to the greenhouse soon. But I though the one in the ground would die. Not so! The Mandevillas did die, but I had already decided to just replace them next year. It is warm and lovely now. Weather is a constant change! kay
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So far, I've missed everything though there's been frost in the valley on both sides on Friday and Saturday. This year, being at 850 feet elevation has really helped extend the season and even the peppers and basil are still alive. Most of my tomatoes are still green and I don't think they're going to ripen before a killing freeze. I'm around 50 lbs of tomatoes and it's the first year I've been that high - I've learned a lot about the canner this year! I think I'll hedge bets and bring in most of the tender things I can this weekend - like lemongrass and the bay tree - just in case the weather people miss one.
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We had a frost too last week. My annuals are slowing going to sleep. I will be out there tomorrow cleaning out the garden of summer annuals that are biting the dust. I will be planting some perennials, panies and bulbs for spring.
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jeanne
12 years ago
By now it has melted - Gesila, how did everything fare?

Jeanne
Gesila
Original Author
12 years ago
Just took a quick look around the garden. They LOOK fine, would they be mush already?
bkay2000
12 years ago
We water everything when we're expecting a bad freeze. The problem with North Texas is the extremes in temperature we get. Most of our shrubs will die at 25 degrees if you do nothing. What the ice does is makes sure whatever it's covering never gets below about 32 degrees. Since it was the last choice available, it was a good thing to do. It was a heck of a lot better than doing nothing.

bkay
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
12 years ago
Oh Gesila, I hope they really are fine!
User
12 years ago
I've heard of this before, but only knew it to be used with young woody plants that were prone to budding early. A neighbor always sprayed his ornamental tree before a hard freeze, and it looked gorgeous next morning, I thought it was to make it look wintry. Had no idea it was to keep from killing the buds. Live and learn.

I'd be interested in knowing if the same method works for plants as water-filled and leafy as hosta. Good luck, Gesila. A few days should tell the tale.
in ny zone5
12 years ago
I once vacationed around Meran, South Tirol in northern Italy. They also spray blooming fruit trees there if a frost/freeze is in the forecast.
jan_on zone 5b
12 years ago
The first time we visited Florida we pulled off the interstate at the welcome centre and were confronted by a large bed of banana trees and other (to us) exotic greenery, totally encased in ice. NOOOO -- that's what we left Ontario to avoid! I hope the technique worked to salvage the plants, or there would have been hoards of disillusioned 'snow birds' behind us.
Jan
bkay2000
12 years ago
So, what happened to the ice covered hosta?

bkay
Gesila
Original Author
12 years ago
They survived with no frost or freeze damage!
bkay2000
12 years ago
A lesson for all of us in dire circumstances.

Thanks,

bkay

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Oh My, Freeze Last Night

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franknjim

Babka NorCal 9b

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cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)

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Oh My, Freeze Last Night

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