Believe it or not, even though the desert Southwest is best known for its intense heat and parching aridity, the cold is always in the back of my mind.  When I consider plant material, I try to choose plants that won’t need to be babied.  That’s easier said than done, of course, when even some of the burliest varieties can get hit during an extremely hard frost.  But shooting for sturdiness in the plant selection process can save you quite a bit of effort and money in the long run.  The cost of heavy-handed maintenance and the inevitable expense of replacement plants really begins to add up.  So I suggest developing a healthy dose of respect for cold in a region not known for it.  And the time to start thinking about it is way before it ever rears its frosty head.

The reality of the situation, though, is that no matter how much we pre-plan for the effects of freezing, we all have something that needs to be protected.  But what to use?  Bath towels or old cotton sheets?  What about burlap or plastic?  There really is no one perfect solution though I tend to stay away from any material that will absorb excess moisture (like cotton), block UV rays if left on during the day (like dark fabrics) or that doesn’t breathe (like plastic).  My preference is the white, tissue-like-though-strong frost cloth that you can get at most garden shops around town.  And the good news is that it’s reusable year after year (saving money and landfill space).

I also recommend making sure that the ground around your plants is evenly moist as slightly damp soils absorb more heat and lose it much more slowly than dry soils.  This will also hydrate your plants, minimizing their stress and making them less prone to leaf damage in the process.

Another option, for those festively–inclined, is holiday lights strung in and around delicate plants.  It adds just a little bit of heat but an abundance of warming seasonal cheer.  Hey…it’s worth a try.

Jason Isenberg is owner of Urban Organics Landscaping, a locally owned landscape firm specializing in sustainable design, construction and maintenance practices.  He can be reached at (520) 791-9131.