Frost

16 years ago

What's more important to prevent frost damage - overhead protection or side protection?

I've got a young Alyogyne I want to protect as these seem to grow over winter. I've got a wire surround and I'm wondering whether draping hessian over the top is enough or should I concentrate more on wrapping around the side?

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Comment (1)

alisonoz_gw
16 years ago
Since you have been waiting a few days without response, I'll have a go, though I've no scientific knowledge.
I live in Qld below Brisbane but slightly inland. The winter temps can get low, and sometimes the air-temp will dip to minus by a degree or two, but we seldom have real frosts as the ground has retained its daytime warmth. If we do, the frosts are usually light on the ground.
But several times over the years, I've experienced a "black frost" where the wind chill factor was so low, that it burned tender foliage - tropicals and banana leaves and such, especially those exposed slightly above fence level in direct line of the wind.
So, I think there is no simple answer for you, and you would have to judge conditions. If you really wanted to protect a young or tender plant on a particular day of forecast harsh weather conditions, then I would think an all-over wrap would be necessary. You might devise something with a cover you can flip over the top when needed, but allowing sun-light on normal days.

Try googling some articles on how frost forms, like

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/wea00/wea00039.htm
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Frost

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alisonoz_gw

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