How to save your plants from freezing temps

Santa Maria, Calif. - On Monday night we will see below-freezing temperatures. This forecast has local farmers and gardeners concerned.

Experts say the most important thing is to bring your plants in for cover or to drape them in sheets. The good news is they said one night of frost won't cause detrimental damage.

Rancho Guadalupe Farm owner Jim Wesner is busy protecting his crops.

“Mostly we get the effects in the nursery. Where you have small plants, baby plants stuff that just germinated which can't handle the cold temperatures,” said Wesner.

Wesner says he uses windmills to circulate controlled air on the crops. He also noted that crops are not the only thing that need tending to.

“You want to make sure you have your animals inside because they can't handle that temperature,” said Wesner.

And if you have garden plants, they will need some TLC in freezing temperatures also. Gardeners say to move your frost-sensitive plants under a patio or indoors.

If that's not an option…

“The best thing is to cover them, you can use burlap or a sheet,” said Old Town Garden Center gardener Teresa Pico.

If you have larger trees another trick experts give is:

“If you have old fashion outdoor Christmas lights, you can put those on the tree and it will produce a little heat and keep it from frosting,” said Pico.

If your plants do get damaged by frost, they should be okay if you follow these steps.

“If your plant does get frost burn, many varieties will come out of it. But you want to leave the burnt stuff on the plant and wait until the frost is done. And then cut the old stuff off. Then new growth will come out,” noted Pico.

Wesner says the crops, for the most part, will be okay if the frost only last a night or so.