TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – With the first frost possible early next week, outdoor plants will need protection from the elements.
The bedding manager at Espositos, Devin Swirk, said that for some summer plants like citrus, marigolds and zinnias, they can be protected with cloth or cotton sheets – but never use plastic because it can burn the plant’s leaves.
If you forget to cover or bring your plants inside, there’s one more last-minute strategy.
“Wake up, either right before the sun comes up or right as the sun is coming up, get your hose out and hose down all your plants to wash that frost off your plants because the burn actually happens when the sun hits the frost on the leaves with the plants, it heats up really fast, and then that is what burns the plants,” he said.
As we transition into cooler temperatures, experts recommend planting pansies, cabbage, or snapdragons, which do much better in the winter.
For the latest forecasts from WCTV’s First Alert Weather team, click here.
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