How to Protect Your Plants in Hard Freeze

By: Kristin Bauer - Email

Updated: Sun 5:34 PM, Oct 07, 2012

"As you move the plants in, you don't want to bring the bugs in so it's important to get them all cleaned up as you move inside."

As winter appraches, we all have our own ways of keeping warm, but do you know how to keep your plants warm in the winter?

Not everyone has the luxery of owning a greenhouse. However, there are ways of keeping your flowers alive year round.

"We are seeing less and less interest in the annuals and perennials as it's time to move inside. They're [customers] getting pots for those house plants moving in," said Luann Finke of Finke Gardens.

Moving inside is the number one solution. With the threat of a hard freeze within the next few days, Nebraskans will have to start repotting their outdoor plants.

"As you move the plants in, you don't want to bring the bugs in so it's important to get them all cleaned up as you move inside."

Potting plants isn't the only solution. You can also cover your plants if you choose the right material.

"Get the cover on before it gets cold. Use a fabric that has a lot of dead air space. Quilts are perfect. I like to do teepees to keep from smashing the plant. Paper and plastic are not good."

But how series is the threat? Are we looking at the official beginning of winter?

"Is it possible we can still warm things up back into the 80s for highs? Yes. It's possible, but not in the near future," said Meteorologist Brandon Rector.

There are several options for protecting these plants, but the question is, which ones are worth saving?

"If you have one great tomato plant with lots of fruit, it's probably worth protecting-- that is as we have short periods of cold weather, said Finke, "and you can continue harvesting well into October."

This just shows that everyone who loves gardening has options, even in these cold tempertures.