covering plants with tablecloth

Question

Can you cover plants with a thin plastic tablecloth to protect them from frost? I want to protect my thornless rose bush, hibiscus, shrimp plants, Hawaiian the plants and plan trees. What are the best practices for doing this?

Answer 1

Not knowing how many or the size of these plants, I can offer a few hints. It’s best that the cover not touch the plant/leaves as condensation can collect at the top of the cover and possibly freeze the leaves that touch it. If it’s too large to cover, protect the roots and lower stem with bags of mulch laid unopened on the soil and around as much of the lower stem as possible. I’ve seen people wrap LIT Christmas trees lights in the foliage to provide a little warmth. It’s best to ask your Agrilife extension office, every state has one and they often have Master Gardener hotlines to answer any and all horticulture related questions with the best answer for your area. Google: Agrilife extension (your state name and your county name). Good luck