I share your situation as there could be frost here (Orrawa Valley Canada) tonight and tomorrow night as well Hostas here are not unfurled yet so they have a modicum of protection against a light frost.

The objective of placing a sheet is to trap warm air under and prevent the temperature from falling the last degree or two below the frost line - the ground is thawed now so it serves as a residual sink of heat. It works best if the cover is above the leaves but it is a lot of extra work usually to get it set that way.

I wish you good luck in avoiding a freeze - hostas are pretty tough so a freeze won't be fatal. Average last frost here is May 20 and over the years my hostas have all survived those frosts without cover.

Doug

We have frost tonight too in the forecast. I also have several leafed out hostas. My DW would tell me something when I would dare to use her bed sheets over my hostas, so I consider it fate and let nature lower temperatures without protection. Though I might put some pots over selected plants, and 3 trays of seedlings will be brought into the garage.

I believe people put sheets simply over hostas without support structures, but I never did it. I used spun row covers in the past, but they have many holes now.
Bernd

I also am wondering about my hostas. I have seven in a row at the foundation of the house. I am hoping that there will be enough protection for them. I have ran out of old towels etc covering the other tender plants. I have used straw for some of the plants.

This frost worries me because it is scheduled to be below 30 degrees all night long. Not just for an hour or two.

Everything else that is in flats have been brought in.

Good luck everyone!!

Diane

But if it's supposed to be in the 40s tonight, you're ok, right?

40's is okay. That was our high for today and the hostas look okay, though they don't seem to be liking this cold all too well. I have all of mine covered with bed sheets and pillow cases and some light flannel blankets. Thank goodness my mom didn't throw them all away, I guess they are good for something.

Karen

Crossing my fingers for you guys, we dodged a CLOSE one this morning.. it had me worried.

I imagine its the same cold front working that way.

I also bet that Steve is out covering his beauties now, as my Massachusetts weather app says there is a freeze warning in parts of MA from midnight to 8am. This weather is hanging on to the very last average frost day.

Woke up to frost on everything. Hoping the hostas beneath the sheets are okay.

Karen

40 here last night and a freeze warning for tonight.

Jon

One cold night gotten through seemingly unscathed but the forecast for tonight is a bit colder ... we shall see soon enough. Right now a stiff wind and temps close to the freezing mark give enough wind chill to make it fairly unpleasant outside.

Hard to say it is unusual because average last frost is May 20 here. It seems to me that most years there is a late frost that catches all the folks who jumped the gun planting annuals. My hostas are not yet unfurled so it would take a really severe frost to cause damage.

Doug

May 1st is the last frost date here. It is ridiculous to have the heat on when it is the middle of May.

Jon

No frost last night, stayed in the low 40s. The Weather Channel has become very inaccurate in its forecasts, shows warnings and when you click on it they are for areas several states away. Tonight they forecast 32 dgrs. I recollect that when it goes to 30, there could be some damage. We had many nights in the 40s with leaves out, no damage. I would have to raid the linen closets of neighbors to cover my 300 hostas, so I will see tomorrow morning.
I still have a wabbit which can squeeze through chain link fence, and which nibbles on hosta leaves, that's my problem.
Bernd

There was a little frost down in the valley,but up here where I live there was none. Besides,my hostas are under the cover of the trees,which are leafed out. It was 40 this morning,and,as far as I remember,is still above freezing! I hope it was the last blast for this for you all,as well as me. Hostas look a little down today,probably because of the cold,but no damage. Today,it is cool with those high winds again! Boy,I wish it would decide if it wants to be winter,or stay spring! My hostas are all leafed out ,and I hope they stay damage free. Last year,we had a late April hailstorm,which damaged them. Phil

I woke up to 31 degrees before dawn. I'm not even going outside today. From my kitchen window, Liberty and Sage look limpy.

I've actually decided that working on IRS audits would be more fun today that a walk in the gardens.

Gesila

This post was edited by Gesila on Mon, May 13, 13 at 14:46

I uncovered them this morning and the sheets did help somewhat, they aren't limping but I know leaves have been damaged. We got to 31 this morning as well. Time will tell how damaged they are.

On the bright side, whatever pollen that was in the air the last couple of days giving me the sneezes and drippy nose must have been zapped by the frost, at least temporarily. Not feeling too bad today.

Karen

I wore my heavy coat and braved the bitter wind this morning to inspect - all seemed well. I am a zone colder and a bit further north than MI so other than Lady Isobel Barnett which has just begun to unfurl, all others are tight shoots right now. The wind has died this afternoon and temps are falling with another frost expected tonight.

Doug

We have a frost warning tonight as well. I plan to water the beds this evening - keeping my fingers crossed that the moisture gives me the few degrees I need to ward off damage.

It is supposed to feel like -4C tonight! I have put sheets on most hostas but a few, I have simply covered with plastic plant pots - will this work? The leaves are touching the edges of the pots on the inside - will this be okay or should I put sheets on everything??

Thanks!

Paula ... you quoted the windchill. I don't think there is a frost warning for anywhere in southern ON tonight. Here in the Ottawa Valley it will get fairly close to freezing tonight and tomorrow night with a cold windchill but all the plants will survive it fine. Today was a miserably cold wet windy day with the temp sitting at around 8C (46F) this afternoon

Doug

I'm in SE Michigan, and we have frost warnings tonight.

Paula, I'm not an expert, but in my experience, pots are better than nothing, and blankets or sheets are better than pots if the plants are squeezed in the pots. A lot depends on the temps and length of time the cold lingers.

I'm heading back out to finish covering what I can in the yard. I'm using bamboo sticks (broken off to whatever length I need) or garden fencing to try to keep the blankets and sheets off of the plants as much as possible. I don't always do that, but it avoids more damage for me.

Right now almost everything is too big for pots, but I'll use those on what I can to save the sheets for bigger plants.

I hope the frost misses both of us! I'd be very happy to do all this work for nothing!!

Doug,
Please see attached, the warning was issued at 3:30pm
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/alerts/high-alert/canada/ontario/uxbridge

Hi Ruth,
Thanks for the tips, I will add some sticks, etc to lift the sheets off of the plants to help.

Paula

Paula

Frost warning just issued for the northern valley as well.

Good luck in avoiding any damage to your hostas ... and if you can raise the sheet above the plants you will be better off.

Doug

Can you wrap w/ newspaper before you cover with pots? to prevent leaves touching pots? I know how much work that's involved....

SW Michigan as well, frost advisory for us here. I brought in all of the plants in pots into the garage and house, covered the more tender annuals with sheets and pots, and the tomatoes. The hostas are on their own tonight. Hoping it won't get so cold for there to be frost, and hoping the tree leaves will protect the ones under there.

Karen

The end result of my efforts in one of my beds - I certainly hope it pays off! Tomorrow will tell.

Awww, bless your hearts, I know it is discouraging. In 7 more days it's June, and only 21 days beyond into June, summer begins. Could you have frost then? Awesome to think about.

No frost here last night but it was close. Waiting for Paula to report in from Central Ontario - her coverage of her hostas should have her protected.

Average last frost here is May 20 so this is certainly not unheard of nor is a very early June frost. But I would expect the weather to warm now and that there will be no more frost risks for this spring. The only good the late frost brings is to set back the mosquito population.

Just as an aside, I am in zone 4. I had been trying to grow some Baltic Ivy and Rhodendendrons- both supposedly hardy to zone 5. They survived the first winter. But this past winter, despite keeping them well mulched and planting in a protected area and an about average winter with only a couple of nights in the -33C area, all perished. I never learn but have now sworn off trying to grow anything that requires such babying.

Doug

I feel for you guys. We, too, had the late frosts and freezes. You can see the damage on several plants, even after they are fully leafed out, but it's not permanent. It's only this year. Maybe the second flush will cover some more. You don't notice it unless you look closely.

I hope your efforts stop the damage.

bk

We had rain for 3 days before the frost. This made the plants able to handle a frost. I have had better luck going out and doing what the growers do in Florida when they have a frost. I get up in the morning and hose the plants down this time Mother Nature did it for me,

When I covered them I had bent and broken leaves I had more creepy crawler damage. They got all warm and comfy and ate the leaves.

George Africa of Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens used a product called FreezPruf. Made by the same folks who make Liquid Fence. Apparently they need more of Gesila's money. Any way, he thinks it works. Here's the blog entry. Wonder if he's using it tonight.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Vermont Flower Farm - FreezPruf

Hello everyone,

All went well in my garden, my neighbours had some slight damage on the north side of their hanging baskets (I brought mine inside).
Thanks for the good wishes!

Paula