How to Prepare and Protect Your Garden From January Weather Extremes
The weather can be crazy in the dead of winter. Here’s a look at what you may encounter and three surefire ways to protect your plants from damage.
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, January is the height of winter weather. This time of year can really do a number on your garden if you aren’t prepared. From snow and sleet to freezing winds and rainstorms, it pays to be ready so you can protect your plants.
Here’s a closer look at the possible weather extremes you can expect in January — and what you can do to combat them.
If you live just about anywhere outside the tropics, you’re likely familiar with frosts and freezes. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to separate weather events.
Frosts occur when there are visible ice crystals outdoors. Sometimes frosts occur when the air temperature is still above freezing and melt quickly once the sun comes out. They tend to be easier to deal with and will only harm your most cold-sensitive plants, like tomatoes and peppers.
Freezes occur when the air temperature dips below freezing. It’s possible to have a freeze without any frost if there isn’t moisture in the air. The dew point and wind conditions will affect how damaging a frost can be, as windy weather tends to hurt plants faster because it’s harder to protect them.
Sometimes winter weather feels far colder than what the thermometer is reading. That’s due to wind chill, which is the perceived temperature you experience when accounting for heat loss from exposed skin in chilly, windy conditions.
As wind increases, your body cools down at an accelerated rate, which causes your skin temperature to drop. So, while the temperature may be well above freezing, you might find yourself shivering while working on garden projects in January.
You might not look forward to snow in January, but it can actually benefit your garden in the winter. Snow acts as natural insulation and can protect delicate roots. Plants are far more likely to survive freezing winds if they have a thick layer of snow acting as a comfy blanket over top of them.
Weather in January isn’t always snow and ice. Sometimes, it can mean lots of rain. While most plants can survive this kind of weather well when they’re in a dormant state, excessive rain can wreak havoc on your yard and turn it into a muddy mess. In extreme conditions, it may even uproot plants from garden beds and cause them to become displaced.
One of the worst kinds of weather for your garden that you need to be prepared for in January are ice storms. This slurry of freezing rain is the result of a deep, warm layer in the atmosphere with a shallow, freezing layer at the surface. This causes rain to fall into air that is below freezing and turn into sleet that hardens into ice once it makes contact.
Ice from ice storms can accumulate on tree branches and garden structures, causing them to snap when the weight gets overwhelming. They are a leading cause of property damage in winter weather.
You don’t need to leave your garden at the mercy of January weather. There are steps you can take to keep things protected, so your garden thrives again when spring returns.
You can easily keep plants safe from snow, wind, and ice with simple covers that create a barrier between them and the elements. Greenhouse plastic works perfectly, or you can use natural materials like fallen leaves, straw, or even wood mulch for natural insulation.
When using plastic and other synthetic materials, it’s important you uncover the plants as soon as the weather warms again to prevent any damage from overheating.
If you want a more permanent form of protection, consider building a greenhouse or bringing plants indoors for the winter months.
One of the best ways to protect plants from flooding is to utilize raised beds and other growing strategies that keep things elevated. This stops the soil from getting quite as saturated and protects plant roots from drowning from excessive moisture.
If you’re looking for a longer-term strategy, consider digging swales (flood barriers) or drainage ditches to collect and redirect water from the property, or even a retention pond for storing water for use in other seasons.
Few things feel stronger than harsh winter winds. Protect vulnerable plants by designing your property to block the worst of them. Installing windbreaks is a stellar long-term solution. You can plant sturdy hedges to break up strong winds, so they are less forceful when they reach your plants.
It’s also smart to move anything prone to getting windswept indoors and to regularly trim dead branches that are at risk of falling and damaging buildings and structure. You’ll want to securely anchor down any lightweight greenhouses or cold frames to prevent any mishaps.
Dealing with intense January weather can be a challenge, no matter where you live in the Northern Hemisphere. By understanding what the weather can do in January and planning accordingly, you can help protect your plants and garden space.
So, plan for the worst, and you can ensure you’re always prepared — no matter what the weather throws at you.