When cold weather strikes, every gardener inevitably faces the question – how can I protect my plants from frost damage? An unexpected dip in temperatures can wreak havoc on tender vegetation if you’re not prepared While commercial plant covers work well, you can also use common household items for frost protection in a pinch One of the easiest and most effective DIY methods? Covering plants with buckets.
Let’s explore why using upturned buckets to shield plants works so effectively tips for success, and other potential household items that can act as covers
Why Buckets Make Great Emergency Plant Covers
Standard plastic buckets offer many advantages when you need to shield plants from icy conditions on short notice:
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Availability – Most homes already have spare buckets on hand for various uses. No special trip to the garden center required.
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Portability – Lightweight buckets are easy to carry outside and place over plants just before frost sets in.
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Weather resistance – Durable plastic buckets stand up to wind, rain, snow, and cold better than delicate fabrics.
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Insulating properties – Plastic provides more insulation against cold than thin bedsheets or towels. The enclosed space traps heat.
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Moisture barrier – Plastic buckets prevent frost formation on leaves by blocking moisture. This protects foliage.
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Roominess – Generous bucket capacity easily fits over larger plants, unlike sheets that collapse.
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Reusability – Unlike fabrics, heavy-duty buckets can be used repeatedly over many seasons.
Tips for Effectively Covering Plants with Buckets
Follow these tips to get the best frost protection when using buckets:
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Choose buckets that are roughly 2-3 times wider than the plant’s width to allow ample air flow.
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Nestle the bucket down over the foliage and gently press soil around the rim to seal it. Avoid compressing leaves.
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Weigh the bucket down with a rock, brick, or stake so it doesn’t blow away in wind.
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Monitor temperature closely and remove buckets in the morning once the risk of frost has passed.
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Allow plants to acclimate to the outdoors again before re-covering with buckets the next evening.
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For tall plants, use large buckets or drums. For small plants, use plastic plant pots or nursery potsinverted.
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Group buckets together over rows or clusters of plants rather than individual buckets for each.
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Ensure no rainwater collects in buckets by drilling small drainage holes near the base if needed.
Other Household Items that Can Cover Plants
If buckets are not available, these common household items also make good emergency plant covers:
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Plastic containers – Wash tubs, bins, crates, and storage boxes can all shelter plants when flipped upside down.
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Flower pots – Inverted clay or plastic pots of all sizes can protect plants in a pinch.
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Cloches – Improvised cloches can be made from clear plastic jugs or bottles with the bottoms cut off.
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Baskets – Weave baskets anchored with stones can shelter low-growing plants from frost.
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Blankets/quilts – These provide insulation if gently laid over plants, anchored edge to edge with stones.
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Cardboard – Use boxes, sheets, or shipping tubes to tent over delicate vegetation overnight.
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Towels – Terry cloth traps heat well. Drape over plants and weigh down edges.
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Tarps – Lightweight poly tarps can be draped into tents to shelter garden rows.
When to Use Emergency Bucket Covers
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Cover plants when temperatures are forecasted to dip near 32°F.
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Add covers in the late evening when frost begins forming; remove them in early morning.
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Prioritize sheltering the most vulnerable plants first, like seedlings, potted plants, and tropicals.
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Remember to remove covers daily so plants get sunlight and avoid moisture buildup.
Other Frost Protection Tips
Buckets alone may not be enough for harsh freezes. Here are more tips to protect plants from cold:
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Add mulch around plant bases to insulate roots and soil.
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Water soil 1-2 days before a freeze; moist ground holds heat better.
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Cover the ground with row cover fabric for added insulation.
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Place strings of outdoor lights under covers to generate warmth.
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Move portable plants inside sheds, garages or homes temporarily.
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Select cold-hardy plants bred to withstand frost and freezing.
With the right preparations, a little cold snap doesn’t have to spell disaster for your garden. Arm yourself with plenty of buckets and other covers so you can rest easy knowing your plants stay safely sheltered from Old Man Winter’s icy breath.
What Garden Plants are Least Susceptible to Frost?
If it frosts from 0°C to -3°C (32°F to 25°F), some of your garden vegetables will be hurt. Cool hardy plants that can withstand a light frost include:
If you started any of these plants indoors and moved them to your garden in the last two weeks, you might want to cover them just to be safe. Your plants should be fine if they grew from seeds in your garden. You won’t need to cover them during a light frost.
5 Ideas on How to Protect Plants from Frost During Freezing Temperatures
Select at least one of, or a few of these options to protect plants from frost. If the forecast is even 5 degrees off a frost, I cover my plants.
If the temperature drops below two degrees, you should take steps to keep your plants safe from frost.
Water holds heat and well watered plants are less vulnerable to frost.
Use large plastic plant pots to place over your plants to protect them from frost. Another idea is gallon milk jugs with the bottom cut out and placed over your plants. Try to be careful not to let any of the leaves be touching the plastic.
If you have already done step 3, the plastic pots will protect the blanket from crushing your plants. Other options for holding blankets off plants are tomato cages or garden stakes. Dont forget to take the blankets off in the morning once the low temperatures have passed.
Bring your plants inside to avoid frost if they are in pots that you can move.
Some also suggest placing a bottle of warm water close to your plants. I haven’t done this because the steps above have always been enough for me, but if you are really worried about some plants, this extra step might help.
DIY frost protection for plants using boxes and buckets.
FAQ
What is the best thing to cover plants with?
Can I cover plants with plastic containers?
What happens if you cover a plant?
Is it better to cover plants with plastic or cloth?
Should I Cover my plants with plastic bags?
While you can cover your plants with plastic bags to protect them from frost, it’s not the best material for the objective. Plastic isn’t breathable, so moisture is easily trapped beneath it. This can lead to even bigger problems for plants beyond frost.
How to plant a garden in a bucket?
In case of strong winds, pile up soil or mulch against the sides of the bucket, or put stones on top. That should prevent it from blowing away. Buckets and pots will not let light through, so you will need to remove them during the day. A grow bag is normally filled with soil so that you can plant something in it.
How do you cover plants from frost?
Plastic bottles with the bottom cut off can act as cloches to cover individual plants from frost. After cutting off the bottom, place them in the soil over each plant. With these frost covers, it’s vital to remember that you should remove them during the day and put them back at dusk.
Do you need to cover plants?
Sometimes you need to cover plants protect them from garden hazards like cold, wind, and pests. If you are drawing a blank on what to use for plant protection, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. So, what can you use to cover plants?