Protecting Plants from Frost and Freezing Temperatures
Covering the garden soil and plants with a tarp helps protect weak foliage, roots, and buds from damaging frosts and sub-freezing temperatures during winter. By maintaining a layer of insulating air beneath the Clear Tarpaulin, the soil and close by plant parts remain a few degrees warmer than the outside air.
Preventing Winter Damage from Snow and Ice
In areas where weighty snowfall and accumulation are common in winter, the weight of soggy snow pressing down on tender plant growth can make stems and branches snap. Clear tarpaulin staging helps prevent this type of mechanical damage by preventing snow from directly piling on top of plants. Tarps likewise shield them from the effects of alternate freezing and thawing under accumulating ice.
Keeping Soil Warm for Early Spring Planting
The soil beneath tarp-covered garden beds retains warmth longer than bare soil when presented to winter’s cool temperatures. By early spring, the soil temperature under tarp coverage will be a few degrees warmer compared to uncovered soil. This effect of insulation permits gardeners to get an early advantage on spring planting of heat-loving crops like tomatoes and peppers, typically 2-3 weeks earlier than without tarp protection.
Suppressing Weed Growth During Winter Dormancy
Numerous perennial and winter yearly weeds lie dormant under the soil surface during cold months, just waiting for warmer temps to break dormancy and sprout. However, clear tarpaulin rejects light from reaching the top not many inches of soil which weeds need to trigger growth come spring. By covering beds, far less weeds will arise and should be removed before desired crops are planted.
Choosing the Right Tarpaulin
There are a couple of key factors to consider when selecting the best clear tarpaulin for winter garden protection:
Material
Search for Tarpaulins produced using polyethylene plastic, as it is UV stabilized to resist breakdown from sun openness over multiple years. Avoid vinyl tarps which might break in cool conditions.
Size
Measure the total square footage of all your garden beds and add a couple of extra feet on each side for overlapping. This will guarantee you purchase a sufficiently enormous tarp to completely cover the area.
Anchor Grommets
A few tarps have pre-installed grommet openings around the perimeter for running rope or twine through to get the tarp edges down tight. If not, you might have to install your own grommets.
Benefits of Using Clear Tarpaulin
There are many advantages to using clear tarpaulin for overwintering garden beds and plants. A portion of the key benefits include:
Protect Soil Structure and Biology:
The layer of insulation provided by the tarp helps keep soil microorganisms, earthworms, beneficial fungi and bacteria active for a longer period compared to uncovered soil. This maintains healthy soil structure and fertility.
Prevent Frost Heaving:
Alternating patterns of soil freezing and thawing make ice crystals expand in the soil profile, pushing soil particles and roots upwards in a cycle called frost heaving. Tarps prevent this direct openness which could damage or kill heat-sensitive plants.
Suppress Weed Growth:
As mentioned earlier, the absence of light penetration under tarps disrupts the germination signs of many winter yearly weeds. Far less will arise in spring in covered beds.
Minimize Winter Damage:
Plants are protected from mechanical breaking or tearing of tissues from snow and ice loading. Leaves, buds and stems remain intact for earlier growth kickoff.
Less Winter Drying of Soil:
Uncovered soil can dry out over winter fromwind, sun and fluctuations from freezing to thawing. Tarps conserve moisture content for healthier soils.
Keep Soil Warmer Longer:
Ground temperatures stay 2-5°C warmer under clear tarps well into spring versus presented soil according to Virginia Cooperative extension studies. This extends the growing season significantly.
FAQs
Doesn’t the tarp block air flow/ventilation to the soil?
While tarps prevent direct air flow, the soil remains porous and a few gas trade can happen through the fabric. Legitimate anchoring prevents full sealing effect.
Won’t rain or snow just collect on top of the tarp?
Most precipitation will run off the slanted sides of the tarp. Any minor pooling is unlikely to cause issues. Tarps breathe to prevent trapped water.
How do animals like squirrels and birds still access plants?
Wildlife can normally tunnel under the tarps or create little openings to access encased plants depending on the situation without comprising coverage.
When should I remove the tarp in spring?
Remove tarps once nighttime lows are consistently above freezing, generally 1 fourteen days after your regional last frost date. This varies regionally from late Walk to May.
Conclusion
Covering home vegetable gardens and landscape beds with clear tarpaulin provides an effective and minimal expense solution for protecting significant plants and nourishing soil over the colder winter months. When installed and secured appropriately according to best practices, tarps form an insulating barrier that keeps soils a few degrees warmer while blocking damaging frost, ice, snow and desiccating winds.
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