Frost damage is a significant problem for gardens in winter.
The damage doesn’t occur as a result of the frost settling on the plants it occurs as a result of the cells in the stems bursting as the sun warms them.
To minimize damage, plant frost sensitive plants such as frangipanis against a masonry wall. Masonry walls act like storage heaters. They store heat from the sun during the day and radiate it out at night, thus creating a warm ‘microclimate’ for nearby plants.
Other protective measures you can take are to place stakes around the plant & get a clear heavy duty plastic bag or sleeve (a bag is better) and secure it with a couple of stones so that you are creating a mini glass house. Do that for the first couple of years until it’s ½ metre or so & then it will be fine – it will be cold tolerant but having it near a masony wall is still critical.
There are other materials such as frost mat which can be placed on top of the stakes. This provides some protection but not as much as a clear plastic bag.
Frost Damage
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