GARDEN FANATIC: Weatherproofing your delicate plants

“The weather is like the government, always in the wrong.”

— Jerome K. Jerome

Gardeners face myriad challenges as wind, rain and particularly cold have arrived. Good judgment on tree selection and pruning shows up during and after major winter storms. In certain Laguna climes, there is the distinct possibility of frost damage to tender plantings.

Cold temperatures may damage or destroy certain plant tissues, by causing the water inside the plant to crystallize and rupture cell walls. Visually, blackened or mushy leaves and stems are the signs of cold damage. Many tropical and subtropical plants can suffer tissue damage once temperatures dip below 40 degrees.

Plants, which are cold sensitive, cannot be expected to survive outdoors with any amount of covering during freezing conditions. Only artificial heat indoors will sustain them over the winter.

What can you do when your non-hardy plants are too large to move indoors? If the plants are movable, try temporarily relocating them under the eaves of your house. This location is warmer and less exposed to the elements.

The loss of heat can also be reduced by completely covering plants with cloth tarps or burlaps and the corners are then pegged into the ground.

As last resorts, portable heaters and fans can keep temperatures from falling too low around sensitive plantings. This isn’t practical during rainy periods, due to the incompatibility of water and electricity. During periods of clear, cold weather, sprinkling plants lightly with water will often save them. If the temperature is below freezing, however, sprinkling water will do more harm than good.

Perhaps the best solution is to know which zone you live in (the Sunset Book is an excellent guide) and how low temperatures might drop.

Seeking to escape the rain this week, Catharine and I sought refuge in the warmth and cozy confines of Michael Kang’s place. Clearly, the master’s touch with food and wine is enhanced during the holidays.

I happened to glance at a poinsettia on our way out; it was clearly unhappy with the air temperature downtown. A fleeting, paternal notion crossed my mind that I should cover it with my jacket. The thought quickly turned to a bit of musing — a somber Christmas will be yielding to an eternally optimistic spring soon!

See you next time.

 STEVE KAWARATANI is happily married to award winning writer Catharine Cooper and has one cat and four dogs. He can be reached at (949) 497-8168, or e-mail to [email protected].