How to Protect Your Denver Landscaping From Sudden Frost
March 12, 2021
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Spring may be well on the way, but that doesn’t mean that freezing temperatures will be over for good. The Denver area is well known for surprise frosts well into the beginning of June. Those short periods of freezing weather may not seem like a huge deal, but they can be a major problem for your landscaping when it’s starting to produce new growth during the spring months. You need to make sure you’re able to protect your Denver landscape as thoroughly as possible. These are a few simple ways to do just that.
Prune What You Can, When You Can
If you have young trees or newly growing shrubs, you’ll want to protect that young growth from the cold weather. The best way to do that is to make sure the excess growth is trimmed away. Prune your plants to get rid of excess weight that might strain the shrubs or trees. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, your landscaping team can help.
Bring Potted Plants Inside
Potted plants are a great way to add color and depth to your home’s exterior, but they can be especially fragile in cold weather. This is because the amount of soil they have insulating their roots is much less than what your in-ground plants have. Instead of leaving them outdoors, bring them inside. Just moving them to your entryway or even your garage can be enough to keep them blooming well.
Cover Your Garden Beds
If you have garden beds, don’t leave them exposed to the frost. Check the weather forecast and plan on covering those garden beds before the temperatures drop. Old sheets, tarps, paint drop cloths, and even plastic sheeting can work to protect your plants from the cold. Just make sure that you pick the covers up once the weather passes. This way, your plants can get the sun they need as soon as it’s warm enough.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Spreading mulch is one of the most effective ways to insulate the roots of your plants. Though it won’t protect the above-ground growth from the frost, it can help keep the roots from freezing or trying to tell the plant to go back into hibernation. All you need to do is spread enough mulch to cover the roots around your plants. Even better, you can leave it in place well into the summer as the mulch will eventually break down and deposit beneficial nutrients into the soil on its own.
Water When It’s Warm
Watering too early is an easy way to shock and freeze your plants. If the temperatures are going to get cold, try to water in the middle of the day when temps are at their highest. This way, your plants will get the water they need and the topsoil will be dry enough to not freeze completely overnight.
Need a Little Extra Help?
If you’re worried about your landscaping’s ability to withstand those surprise frosts, don’t panic. Contact our team and schedule an on-site inspection today.
Go Back Prune What You Can, When You Can
If you have young trees or newly growing shrubs, you’ll want to protect that young growth from the cold weather. The best way to do that is to make sure the excess growth is trimmed away. Prune your plants to get rid of excess weight that might strain the shrubs or trees. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, your landscaping team can help.
Bring Potted Plants Inside
Potted plants are a great way to add color and depth to your home’s exterior, but they can be especially fragile in cold weather. This is because the amount of soil they have insulating their roots is much less than what your in-ground plants have. Instead of leaving them outdoors, bring them inside. Just moving them to your entryway or even your garage can be enough to keep them blooming well.
Cover Your Garden Beds
If you have garden beds, don’t leave them exposed to the frost. Check the weather forecast and plan on covering those garden beds before the temperatures drop. Old sheets, tarps, paint drop cloths, and even plastic sheeting can work to protect your plants from the cold. Just make sure that you pick the covers up once the weather passes. This way, your plants can get the sun they need as soon as it’s warm enough.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Spreading mulch is one of the most effective ways to insulate the roots of your plants. Though it won’t protect the above-ground growth from the frost, it can help keep the roots from freezing or trying to tell the plant to go back into hibernation. All you need to do is spread enough mulch to cover the roots around your plants. Even better, you can leave it in place well into the summer as the mulch will eventually break down and deposit beneficial nutrients into the soil on its own.
Water When It’s Warm
Watering too early is an easy way to shock and freeze your plants. If the temperatures are going to get cold, try to water in the middle of the day when temps are at their highest. This way, your plants will get the water they need and the topsoil will be dry enough to not freeze completely overnight.
Need a Little Extra Help?
If you’re worried about your landscaping’s ability to withstand those surprise frosts, don’t panic. Contact our team and schedule an on-site inspection today.