The coldest temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere occur in February. With a few weeks until the official start of spring, why are the coldest temperatures happening now? The Old Farmer’s Almanac tells us it is because the Earth’s orbit around the Sun has a 23.5-degree tilt, which results in shorter days and weaker light. The weaker light means less radiant heat energy reaching the Earth, and colder temperatures. For the more detailed answer check out the Old Farmer’s Almanac website at almanac.com.
But what a week we had! February may have the coldest temperatures of the year, but this past week record lows were broken as the Artic Blast made its way south.
Hopefully, Texas Spur readers will have in their landscapes only woody specimens, trees and shrubs that are adapted to our USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Still-dormant woody plants adapted to zone 7 should survive 0° F without damage.
It is too late to protect plants exposed to the extreme freezing temperatures last week, but steps can be taken in anticipation of another bout of low temperatures.
Frost cloths offer the best protection from damaging winter freezes.
Frost cloths, sold as row covers, frost blankets, thermal blankets, garden fabric, garden quilts, anti-frost blankets and insulation blankets, will provide freeze protection.
The degree of protection from freezes depends upon the thickness of the cloth. Some are as thin as 12 mil, offering up to 4 degrees protection, thus withstanding 28° F temperatures; the thickest of 3/16” provides 10 degrees of protection, down to 22° F. Additional protection can be achieved by layering several frost cloths.
The material of most frost cloths is polypropylene and is designed to allow rain and sun to penetrate. Frost cloths function two ways—protecting from freezing night temperatures, and, because the cloths are permeable to light, raising temperatures under the cloth by trapping the day’s heat.
Many cloths are UV treated, but remove cloths as soon as they are no longer needed, as the sun will cause the fabric to disintegrate into powder.
Cloths used in our garden were purchased from home improvement stores and from Growers Supply and Gardeners Supply catalogs. Various sizes and dimensions are available, from single rows to areas 50-ft.-by-50-ft. up to 500 ft. The price of the cloths is usually commensurate with thickness and size of the cloth.
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