Trees and plants have suffered greatly from snowstorms, due to low temperatures that have not been seen in the peninsula for many years. For this reason, surely more than one has been upset when seeing their plants affected and even dead, due to the cold and snow. Has it happened to you?
WHAT TO DO WHEN FACED WITH A FROST WARNING
• Above all, do not be alarmed. Check which plants are more susceptible to suffering from low temperatures and prioritize their protection over the rest. If because of their size it is easy to put them at home at night, better place them in the kitchen or bathroom, where they will be more sheltered but will not notice an exaggerated increase in temperature.
• Avoid placing them in the dining room or living room, where thermal shock from the home heating could be worse than leaving them on the balcony or terrace.
• Fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium protect plants from low temperatures: use them as a preventive measure if the frost warning is a few days away.
HOW TO ACT IF THE PLANTS ARE COVERED WITH SNOW
• From the outset, it is not necessary to remove the snow that accumulates on the leaves or branches of your plants. The layer it forms can protect the plant from future frosts. Shake or remove it only if you consider that the weight can split it or if it is plants that are especially sensitive to low temperatures.
• Group the pots in a sunny place, and use thermal veils or screens to protect them from drafts and freezing air. The most delicate ones come into the house: if you have little space, it will be necessary to prioritize.
• Avoid stepping on the grass because its leaves can break under the weight of your steps.
• Never use salt to remove snow from the garden. The damage it can cause if it seeps into the ground can be irretrievable, turning a growing area into barren land for years.
• The brownish leaves and shoots indicate that that part of the plant has frozen, and its tissues have definitely died. They may be protecting the rest, so wait for the good weather to arm yourself with the scissors and start pruning. If possible, take some cuttings to try and propagate it inside your home.
