If you live in an extremely cold climate (zones 1, 2, and 3 on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map), then you may struggle with choosing the best plants and maintenance for your garden. Gardening in an icy climate has its own unique considerations which must be made in order to produce abundant crops. Below, we offer tips to keep your cold-climate garden healthy.
Zones 3, 2 and 1 span over temps of -30 to -60 degrees.
- Choose the plants and vegetation that will thrive in your naturally cold environment. Several examples include Pines, Apples, Onions, and Pears.
- Consider bringing plants indoors during freezing temps if they are in individual pots. This will provide a warmer, more sheltered area.
- Cover the ground with hay to insulate the roots and hold in warmth. Cover the plants themselves with burlap, cardboard boxes, or other insulating material. Plastic milk bottles filled with warm water and placed around the plant and covered with a blanket will keep temperatures warmer and protect a plant over night. (Source: thegardenersrake.com)
The best plants for icy climates are more resisitant to frost. Photo by joshme17 via Flickr
- Water before a freeze to reduce damage. Plants should be moist but not waterlogged. The wind that may come with cold weather will hurt the plants by drying them out; watering will help prevent this. (Source: ehow.com)
- Do not wash frost/ice off plants the morning after a freeze. This raises the temperature too quickly and usually damages the plant’s cell tissues. Instead, wait until the ice thaws and assess plant damage. Hire a certified arborist to remove large or heavy broken branches from trees. If one-third or half of the major limbs are broken, or the trunk is split, decide whether first aid is practical or whether it is best to remove the tree. (Source: chron.com)
Do you have any tips or tricks for your icy weather garden? Let us know below in the comments!
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