So tonight is supposed to get down to 1 or 2C here.. It looks like it will be cloudy and slight breeze so frost may not be an issue. I've put all my leafed out potted plants in the greenhouse with the heater just in case.

I have many others that won't fit in the GH that are just opening their buds or buds swelling and don't want to loose any growth. I was wondering... before I get too crazy with this project tonight... if foam sleeves 2" wide and 6-8" in length covering the tips would actually do anything in the event it turns calm, clear.. and frosts. Or would the whole plant need to be covered for there to be enough latent heat to protect them? I have and extra roll of 1/8" foam underpad and cut up some strips... folded them over and stapled down the side and top to make a sleeve. Its really simple to make a lot in a hurry but wanted to get some thoughts if that amount of protection would do anything?

Thanks...
Tyler

I'm in the same predicament tonight, the whole plant doesn't necessarily need to be covered because all the wood will be fine, it's anything green that you have to worry about

Hey Tyler

I would bunch them together and throw a tarp over them all , with support so tarp doesn't damage tips . Maybe even hang a 60 watt  light bulb or two in the middle .

John

Good Morning Tyler
how did you make out with your trees

I did the safe thing and shuffled them back into the garage.
Glad I did since this morning there was a blanket of frost everywhere.

Hi Ralph... I had to leave early this morning when the frost was still out so I will have to check tonight. I am hoping the sleeves worked as we did get some frost. Pino I wish I had a garage lol... with 60+ 4-5gallon pots it makes it tricky lol. These are all pots that will be buried inground for the season so I am just waiting until we are getting close to the frost free time before they go in. We're expecting another cool night again tonight but it looks good for the next 2 weeks after that. 

John prior to last night had had covered them with a tarp a couple times all bunched together with some 75watt halogens which worked good but with the buds opening I didn't want to damage them with the big heavy tarp. If I just a had a few that would work by laying them on their sides and covering but I just had too many and some were too tall to add any support frame under the tarp. 

One good thing though was this morning I could see exactly where on my property where there wasn't any frost at all. Anything immediately south of a tree line or my garden shed was clear of frost.. which makes sense with the cold air coming down from the north these areas were sheltered from that. So on these questionable nights of 1-2C where there is a risk of a light frost I think I will be moving them to those areas.

Tyler