The containers and roots of container plants can receive freeze damage as well as the top growth. For a small container grown plant, wrap the container in bubble plastic, old carpet or cardboard. Tie the material securely. Place straw or crumpled newspaper between the plant branches. Loosely run a tie around the plant branches to keep the material in place. Then cover with sheet or whatever. If going to rain, add an additional wrap of plastic. Be sure to open the plastic on warm, sunny days.
For a large container plant crumple sheets of old newspaper into tight balls. Stuff the balls into plastic trash bags. The size of bags will be determined by the size of the container. When each bag is sufficiently filled but not full, tie the bag tightly to keep the newspaper from becoming wet. Wet paper does not insulate. Fill as many bags as necessary to go around the container. Then securely tie the bags around the container forming a blanket.
A third method for large plants and containers is a chicken wire and straw barrier. Cut the chicken wire so that it is slightly taller than the plant and wide enough to wrap easily around. Cut two pieces, wiring them together at the four corners to form a two-sided pocket. Stuff the straw between the two wire layers to a 3 or 4-inch thickness. Place the straw-wire wrap around the plant and secure the ends together with wire or string. If desired you can use the same procedure to make a lid for the top, just remember to remove on warm days. If substituting tightly crumpled newspaper for straw, wrap in plastic to keep paper dry.
Any of these methods will give added protection to your special plants.
Linda Sargent, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
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