Get It Growing for 10/23/26

It’s hard to believe, but it’ll soon be time to think about protecting our plants from cold weather.

Average first frost dates range from early November in northern Louisiana to early December in southern parishes, with much of the state experiencing its first frost by mid-November. But these are only averages — and nature sometimes throws us a curveball.

An unexpected early frost can turn the foliage and flowers of cold-sensitive plants dark and mushy long before gardeners are ready to say goodbye to them for the season. And a surprise late frost — which we sometimes see in March or April, after things have already begun warming up for the spring — can harm tender new growth and freshly planted gardens.

A little preparation goes a long way toward avoiding these fates. Here’s one thing you can do now: Pick up some insulating frost cloth so you can be ready to drape it over plants whenever the forecast takes a chilly turn.

“When we’re worried about an early frost in fall or a late frost in spring, frost cloth can give just a little bit of temperature insulation to keep your plants looking good,” said Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station.

Blankets and other coverings can shield plants from cold damage, too, but many gardeners prefer working with frost cloth. It’s lightweight and breathable, and it has proven effective in studies at the Hammond Research Station.

“Frost cloths of different weights and materials can offer several degrees of insulation,” Abdi said. “During these transitional seasons, that can be the difference between the plants looking good and looking rough.”

Frost cloth is not a one-size-fits-all product, however. At your local garden center, you’ll probably find a few kinds.

“You can have woven materials where there are interspersed strands, or you can also have a nonwoven material,” Abdi said. “And then there are also several weights available, so you can pick the material that’s going to work the best for your site and your plants.”

When frost is predicted, cover your plants with the frost cloth, making sure it reaches all the way to the ground. It’s a good idea to secure the coverings to the ground with sod staples or heavy objects such as bricks.

“That way, it can trap that radiant heat from the soil,” Abdi said.

Plants typically only need to be covered for the overnight hours here in Louisiana. During the daytime, it’s important to remove or at least vent frost cloth. Otherwise, a significant amount of heat can build up underneath and burn your plants.

Learn how to protect plants using frost cloth with LSU AgCenter horticulturists Damon Abdi and Jason Stagg.

Frost cloth can help protect tender plants such as tractor seat plant from cold damage. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Damon Abdi, LSU AgCenter assistant professor of landscape horticulture, holds a sheet of woven frost cloth. Nonwoven types also are available. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

The tractor seat plant clump in the foreground was covered with frost cloth during cold weather, preventing damage. The plants in the background were left uncovered and incurred damage. Photo by Damon Abdi/LSU AgCenter