Talk about Micro - Climates!! During the recent freeze, even the soil in some of our plant containers here at our yard at Ft Lowell and Tucson Blvd was frozen solid as were many of our plants including the Sky flower,  and yet the same plant at a client's home in Starr Pass was completely untouched by the cold!  

 

Even around your own home, it's totally possible to have extremes in temperatures in "mini" microclimates.  Elevations, nearby washes, hardscape, and orientation of your home all contribute to this phenomenon. If you learn to pay close attention to the differences around your home and in your neighborhood, you will develop a sense of what plants do well for you and what you need to protect in the event of a freeze or frost alert.

 

Tips for preventing frost damage:

• Water the plants well the morning before possible frost/freeze.
• Cover with frost cloth. Tie or fasten the bottom so that the air does not get under it.
• Bring potted plants that are very tender close to protected walls, under carports, in garages or inside if possible.
• Do not use plastic covers.
• Use Styrofoam cups on columnar cactus tips.
• Wait to cut back frost damaged branches until March!!