Freeze prep with DIY hoops
EEEK! Here we go again. Are you ready for crazy freezing temps next week? If not, let’s prepare together. You have a few days to gather supplies and execute. I did this in a few hours (10 beds), so I’m confident that you can too!
Stock up on FROST CLOTH. There are three different levels of frost protection. We typically opt for lightweight.
Lightweight: Suitable for mild frost. Allows for better light penetration.
Medium: Suitable for temps to 25 degrees F. Better for protecting more established plants.
Heavy: The best protection but restricts airflow and light. Not necessary here in Houston.
Before you buy, make sure that you consider the dimensions of your raised beds. We recommend sizing up by at least 5 feet on all sides so that you can secure cloth to the ground with bricks, rocks or stakes. Fortunately, most frost cloths are between 10’w x 30’l and 10’w x 50’l so you can purchase one or two and cut them to create multiples.
You may also want to DIY hoops to support frost protection fabric. While PVC has been the go-to material to work with, I recommend trying 1/2 inch pex tubing. It’s affordable, much more flexible, and comes in a roll, making it easy to transport. Purchase a Pex cutter ~ you’ll thank us for having this. It’s a cinch to use! *Don’t waste your money on hoop kits… they are flimsy and cheaply made. Making your own with heavier materials is totally worth the effort!
I had great intentions of measuring specific lengths for my hoops but once I got started, I realized that I could eyeball my cuts.
For low covers (low growing herbs), I cut a single ring’s worth.
For medium covers (cut flowers), I cut a single ring plus about 6”.
For tall covers (kale & Swiss chard), I cut a single ring plus 10”.
You’ll want to play with the measurements as your garden will be different of course. Just keep in mind that you will want to bury the ends deeply, so you may need to add a few extra inches.
One thing to note is that when you cut, the tubing will resemble a ring or hula hoop so you need to bend the ends to make them straighter in order to bury them in the edges of your garden beds. The tubing is pretty flexible, unlike PVC, so once you do it a few times, it becomes routine.
When you have your hoops ready, bury into the very ends of your garden beds first, then eyeball it on how many additional hoops you need ~ plan to space them 3-4’ apart.
For my 8 garden beds, I used 200’ of tubing. I did not make row covers for my native & pollinator beds.
When your hoops are in place, it’s a good idea to add a long wooden garden stake to the tops. Secure with zip ties. Or, you can use a heavy twine and weave under and over each hoop, connecting them together tightly at the end. This will prevent your frost cloth from sagging if we experience heavy rain, hail or snow. If your hoops feel a little flimsy, bury them deeper and opt for the wooden garden stake or strip (Home Depot will cut it for you) and secure.
Make sure that the frost cloth either extends all the way to the ground (with bricks or rocks holding it in place) or you can secure it in the soil at the base of each garden bed (with heavy duty metal garden staples, like the ones holding your irrigation tubing in place). Clip your fabric in a few different spots to make sure that it doesn’t blow off. If you have steel garden beds, it’s easy to clip the fabric directly to the thin steel. Clip, clip, clip all the way around each bed.
When you know that a freeze is coming, you will also want to do just a few more things:
Harvest healthy crops. Snip herbs, arugula, lettuce, kale and enjoy! While these plants don’t mind a cold burst, this is a great time to use what you’ve got while you’ve still got it!
Water deeply. Hand water at the root level. Be careful not to spray leaves. Watering right before a freeze will actually keep your soil warmer. This is also true for new shrubs and trees. It’s VERY important to water deeply a day or two prior to freezing temps.
Move potted plants and citrus trees into the garage or house. Covering just the top is the equivalent to absolutely not covering at all. If moving is not an option, cover the whole darn thing from top to bottom and make sure that the bottom of the frost cloth is secured to the ground. The wind chill is often more damaging than the frozen rain or sleet.
Hope for the best but don’t stress the worst. Let’s say that you are out of town and can’t cover a thing. If your garden is full of cold weather plants~ Kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, arugula, sugar snap peas and woody herbs~ you’re in good shape. While it’s preferable to cover, you may be ok if you missed the opportunity. Only Mother Nature will decide. If everything dies, consider it a chance to start fresh for spring. It’s ok. Been there, done that and we’ll be here to help you with a spring refresh.
Jen, Jill and Nicole