No matter how well prepared you are as a gardener, nature will always serve up unpleasant and unforeseen surprises at the worst times. Since I began my journey as a flower farmer in north Texas in spring 2020, I have experienced at least one hard freeze event subsequent to planting out my crop of seedlings in late-March, early-April.
These late-season hard freezes are never something a grower looks forward to and can be extremely stressful times due to the fragility seedlings have to harsh temperatures at this young stage of their growth. Protecting your garden or farm from a hard freeze can be a challenging task, but with the right preparation and techniques, it is possible to keep your plants safe and healthy. Below, I will outline 6 strategies that can be used to safeguard your plants in the likely event of an unseasonably late freeze.
1. Cover your plants
Covering your plants can be accomplished in a variety of ways. There are many products available on the market ranging from light frost cloths that can be draped over foliage (give about 4 degrees protection), to heavy duty, multi-layered plastic tarps that require structures like PVC hoop tunnels to create an air-insulated buffer between the plants and the freezing air. For hard freeze events, I would recommend building these types of structures and using the heavy plastic tarps. While these are superior to the lighter frost cloths, it is important to remember that the tarp should not be making direct contact with any foliage of the plants. Any contact will freeze the moisture directly on the foliage causing "leaf-burn" and can irreparably damage the plant. For larger, individual potted plants, an effective structural material are "tomato-cages". These metal structures surround the plant and will keep the plastic tarps from touching any foliage. 2. Water your plants
Watering your plants well just before AND after a hard freeze is a terrific method for protecting your plants from damage. I would suggest root watering your plants the day prior to a hard freeze. This will help to insulate the roots by creating a more stable and consistent soil temperature. Do not water so thoroughly as to create puddles of standing water around the plants, but do water enough to completely saturate the soil there-in creating the insulating effect. Watering roots & foliage directly after day-time temperatures restore to above freezing will help keep the roots at this stable temperature, lessen leaf burn from frost and will also protect against any additional dips below freezing that may happen in the proceeding cold nights. The key to remember here is that we are trying to simulate a stable climate for the root systems of plants. The roots are a major control center for plant health and should be prioritized in protecting for the long-term health of the plant.
3. Use mulch
Mulch is yet another effective way to insulate the soil and protect your plants' roots. A layer of mulch covering the roots will have small air gaps in between each fragment of the woody material which can operate similarly to the plastic tarp protecting the foliage. The mulch itself will also act as an insulating layer that will help keep warmth from the ground from escaping and getting pulled from the plant by the freezing air. To accomplish this technique, spread a 1"-3" layer of mulch around the base of your plants. Ensure there is a consistent coverage and none of the plant base is visible.
4. Move potted plants indoors
This one may seem obvious, but if you have potted plants, it's best to move them indoors during a hard freeze. Plants that are in pots do not share nearly the same advantage as those planted in the much more thermally stable ground. It is much easier for potted plants to become damaged in freezing temperatures and may not be able to recover as adequately. As an additional tip, it may be helpful to purchase a small dolly to transport heavy potted plants in and out of the house or garage.
5. Use heat lamps or heating cables
If you have a small area or specific plants that you want to protect, you can use heat lamps or heating cables to keep them warm. The benefit of using heating sources to keep your plants protected is that it is much more comforting to know that they will not be exposed to any extreme temperatures throughout the hard freeze event. On the contrary, if you do have a well insulated area to keep heated, it can be quite cost inefficient to sustain a warm average temperature. I have experienced large increases in my utility bill during rapid freezing events. It should also be noted that there is always a chance that heater fails or a fire occurs due to a malfunction with the heating equipment. In both of these cases, significant damage can occur to both plant and property. Be sure to use these with caution and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Prune your plants
Pruning your plants before a freeze can help to reduce the amount of exposed surface area that a plant has to the freezing air. This can be accomplished by removing any dead or damaged branches and leaves, as these can act as a conduit for the cold. By following these tips, you can help to protect your garden from a hard freeze and keep your plants safe and healthy. Remember that while you can take steps to protect your garden, there is always a risk of damage or loss during a freeze. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.
As a flower farm in Texas we've tried many different seed starting methods. Through trial and error we've found that soil blocking is a vastly superior technique compared with the traditional plastic seed starting trays.
One of the main benefits of soil blocking is that it allows for more efficient use of space. Traditional seed starting methods, such as using trays with individual cells, can take up a lot of room in a greenhouse. With soil blocking, the seedlings are grown in small blocks of soil, which are then stacked on top of each other. This allows for many more seedlings to be grown in a smaller area. Another benefit of soil blocking is that it helps to reduce the need for transplanting. When seedlings are grown in individual cells, they must be transplanted into larger containers as they grow due to the root system of the plant becoming root-bound within the small growing area. This can cause stress on the seedlings and can lead to transplant shock. Additionally, the roots within the small cells will grow in a circular pattern, inevitably choking out the plant's ability to absorb nutrients. With soil blocking, the seedlings are grown in blocks of soil that allow the roots to spread more naturally and in turn can be more successfully transferred to larger containers or directly into the garden. This eliminates the need for transplanting and helps to reduce stress on the seedlings. Soil blocking also helps to reduce the risk of disease. When seedlings are grown in a tray with many cells, it is easy for disease to spread from one seedling to another. With soil blocking, each seedling is in its own block of soil, which helps to reduce the risk of disease. In addition, soil blocking allows for better control of moisture and temperature. When seedlings are grown in a tray with many cells, it can be difficult to keep the soil at the right moisture level. With soil blocking, the small blocks of soil can be easily misted or watered, which allows for better control of moisture. Soil blocking also allows for better control of temperature, as the small blocks of soil can be easily moved to different parts of the greenhouse to ensure the seedlings are getting the right amount of light and heat. Overall, soil blocking is a technique that offers many benefits for starting seeds. It allows for more efficient use of space, reduces the need for transplanting, reduces the risk of disease, and allows for better control of moisture and temperature. If you're looking to start seeds this season, consider giving soil blocking a try.
Garden style weddings are all the rage in today’s bridal world. This theme combines the inherent majesty of the natural world with the timelessness and class of the weddings industry.
In this piece, we’re going to talk everything garden style weddings from the perspective of a professional wedding florist. We're going to walk you through some principles for determining your ideal colors and textures, we’re going to discuss some specific garden style themes that we love right now, and lastly we will share some of the unique trends that we believe will take your garden style wedding to the next level.
After reading this, you’re going to love garden style weddings so much, your fiancé might even get jealous. Florals aren’t just a part of the wedding, they are the wedding. Being in the wedding floral industry, we’re thrilled to see a wedding style that’s all about the stories that flowers can tell about people in love. By the time you're done reading, you'll be convinced this is the perfect wedding style for you and will have you wishing for that seasonal spring aesthetic all year around.
Color
With the garden style theme, color is your best friend. There are so many combinations and gradients that your florist can utilize to tell your specific love story. As a florist, I always tell my prospective brides to use “any colors and as many colors as you want!”
When choosing what colors to incorporate into your wedding, I suggest starting by considering families of colors. When talking to your florist, this can help them begin to get a feel for the vibe you're looking for and narrow in on your overall vision. Below are some categories of color to consider for your garden style wedding.
● Warm Colors: Oranges, yellows, reds and pinks
This family of colors is a great look for fall garden style weddings. The reds and oranges will compliment outdoor venues that are chosen for the purpose of experiencing seasonal color change.
● Cool Colors: Purples, pinks, and blues
Cooler colors look absolutely fabulous when they are used in pastel shades! This is a great look for those early spring wedding dates and really is a versatile and sharp look as a garden style color palette
● Complimentary Colors:
Complimentary colors are colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. For example, blue and orange, or yellow and purple. These color combos serve to make eachother “pop” off the page. This type of color strategy makes for an extremely vibrant and impactful theme with garden style weddings.
● All Colors
This is certainly the most true-to-form way to embrace garden style weddings. Any and every color combination goes here. This is easily the best way to represent all the various shades and tints of the natural world. A good tip here is to talk to your florist about excluding one or two certain colors if you really dont like them. There will be so many colors to look at, that one or two won't even be missed.
● White
White and green is a perfect garden style theme that works regardless of the season. This theme is all about the types of flowers used and how they are arranged with each other. Our favorite way to achieve a great look is by combining all white roses, larkspur, zinnias, and tulips. A great tip for pulling this theme together is to think of everything your grandmother would have grown in her personal garden, and you'll be on the right track.
Texture
Texture is vital in any garden style wedding. As we will discuss below, there are a variety of different types of garden wedding, each with their own specific textural elements, but there are certainly a few staples that we suggest you look at regardless of your overall vision or style.
● Linen
Incorporating linen elements into your decor items is a great way to bring that cozy garden afternoon tea vibe into your theme. This can be accomplished through texturally printed table cloths and napkins, or you can source elaborate table runners that will flow down the middle of your long dinner tables. Take this design element to the next level by also incorporating lace elements to your linen and you will be thrilled with how much of an impact this makes to your base garden style design.
● Wicker
Wicker brings a fabulous woody texture without making your decor feel cliche or overtly “rustic”. We're not going for a “barn” or “farmhouse” look with a garden style wedding, so using wicker baskets and chairs in place of heavy literal wood elements is a much sharper look for what youre looking for with this theme.
● Venue selection
This may seem a little out of place for this particular topic, but venue choice can play a vital part in how your overall vision comes together. The best advice here is to be very selective when choosing the setting for your garden style wedding. You want to make sure the physical location has natural features that compliment this theme. This means looking at places that have a variety of green spaces where you can hold an outdoor ceremony or reception. You want to look for venues with a lot of trees, vines, stoney walking paths, or open grass spaces. Choosing an appropriate venue for this style of wedding can save you a lot of time and energy trying to transform a less equipped venue, and gives your florist a good base in which to design on.
● Candles
Incorporating candles into your garden wedding is a very underrated “textural” element. While it might not be a traditional texture per say, what it does add is a natural light element to your decor and enhance your color features. Your floral may look great in the peak light of day, but most people don't think about how to keep that impact through a reception lasting into the evening hours. Think about looking at a christmas tree through a living room window at night; the lighting really enhances the look of all of the gorgeous ornaments. That is what candles can do for all of your beautiful garden style floral.
Our Favorite Garden Wedding Styles
Italian
An Italian style garden wedding is all about the textures and organic shapes of arrangements. With this theme, you'll want to create an overgrown, bright, warm feel. Try to think of an Italian villa with natural gardens and large stone pots with flowy, uncontained greenery and floral.
Look for venues that have large brick or stone patios where you could line up wooden tables with flowing table runners and tall candles. You'll want your centerpieces to have a vast mix of colors as well as branching greenery. Try to give everything that loose, airy feel. Incorporate citrus elements like lemons and oranges into your decor to give a literal representation of the garden theme.
This is a theme we've been seeing a lot in the wedding floral industry recently and we absolutely love creating a vision for these with our brides.
Enchanted
Here is a theme where lighting and setting are vital. These enchanted style garden weddings are absolutely perfect for outdoor, evening weddings and receptions.
For this look, you'll want to find a venue that has some large trees with massive trunks and giant, winding limbs. These can be a focal piece that you get married in front of, or set a backdrop for a beautiful evening dinner reception.
You can do some gravity defying stunts with your floral including hanging chandeliers from the trees and designing large vases filled with water and floral to give you a floating floral effect at the table.
Since this is a perfect wedding theme for evenings, you'll want to really bring those candles into the equation. This will enhance the mood of the enchanted theme, and will reflect natural light off all of those incredible vases.
Vintage
The vintage style is all about taking those classic, traditional wedding elements and combining them with the natural, organic vibe of a garden. Think about all the things you would find in your grandma’s house. Crochet, lace, china, and even ceramic vases are all fantastic décor options for a vintage garden style wedding. This wedding style is designed to take your guests back in time, so try visiting your local thrift store to find some vintage pieces that could be repurposed.
In terms of floral design, you'll want to use a more traditional wedding color palette. This includes all of your whites, pinks, and greens. Unlike other garden styles we have discussed that thrive with extensive color combinations and a free color palette, the vintage style is better represented by a tighter color palette based around those softer colors.
Garden Wedding Trends
Floral Confetti
Floral confetti is a fun and trending way to utilize your wedding flowers in a unique way. Talk to your florist about ordering enough extra flowers so that they can match your garden style theme with a few baskets of petals to be used in your ceremony or reception. Whether your guests shower you with petals as you make your way back down the aisle after you say “I do”, or if you wait until your grand exit to make your way out in style as a married couple, this trend will never disappoint and is sure to leave your guests with a smile on their face as well making a stunning moment for your wedding photographer to capture.
Flower Box Welcome Sign
If you want to add a “Wow!” moment for your guests that sets the tone for your garden theme at the front door, ask your florist to create a “window box” effect at the base of your welcome sign utilizing a mix of the stems and filler being used throughout your wedding floral. This element will bring dimension, color, and life to a piece of decor that is easy to walk by without a second thought, and also serves to draw interest and curiosity for your guest as to what they are in store for with your beautiful garden style wedding.
Private garden arbor
Your wedding will only last a day, but the photos will last a lifetime! Consider exchanging your private vows or having your first look under a private garden arbor to elevate your garden style wedding experience.
Every garden style wedding will have traditional elements like a gorgeous floral arch, lush aisle markers, and beautiful floral hanging backdrops, but one trend that we love that is rarely done is having that special place that only the bride and groom share right before they tie the knot officially.
Weddings are about sharing your special day with loved ones, but there is something special about having that first look, or exchanging your private vows under your very own private arbor that is absolutely teeming with your wedding flowers. When you look back on your wedding day, the photos of this moment will share a fairytale story of two lovers escaping into a secret garden to share one last special moment before entering marital bliss.
If you’re ready to get started planning your dream garden wedding, check out our bridal questionnaire by clicking here!
The boho wedding theme has been popular amoung brides for years and offers sustainable ways to show a couple’s personality through décor. This wedding theme is made for the couples who wants their wedding to be a purposeful gathering and not just another party.
What Is A Boho Wedding?
Boho, short for bohemian, is a word used to describe someone artsy and free-spirited, like a modern-day hippie. Boho weddings embrace the best of all things natural and vintage. It combines modern trends with trends of the 60s and 70s. If you want lots of freedom during your wedding planning process, the boho theme is perfect as it encourages mixing textures and colors.
The goal of a boho theme is to provide a calm and inviting atmosphere. This type of wedding embraces and incorporates the nature around it. It brings elements of the homey indoors outside, showing that nature is true home.
Color
Boho weddings incorporate tan and beige mixed with deep or dusty colors. However, couples who want to keep their colors simple and light only use tan, beige, and white. Color combinations for a boho wedding will depend on the season. Fall and Winter boho weddings look best using deeper colors such as terracotta, maroon, and forest green. Spring and Summer weddings look best with lighter colors such as mustard, sage, and dusty pink. These colors can be used interchangeably based upon what the couple decides looks best.
Textures
The four most essential textures that should be incorporated into a boho wedding are wood, wicker, lace, and fringe. Wood and wicker will bring a homey vibe to your space, but you also want to include those vintage, free-spirited textures such as lace and fringe. If you’re looking for a way to incorporate color into different textures, think about using velvet and/or stained glass. Velvet looks beautiful in almost any color and is the perfect texture for colder seasons. Stained glass is so unique and can tie in all of your wedding colors.
Decor
Donkeys- Take some wedding pictures with a donkey, you won’t regret it. The wedding donkeys started as a Greek tradition where the donkey escorts the bride to the ceremony. Now, wedding donkeys act as photo ops and beer burros. This will add so much character to your wedding photos and your guests will love getting to interact and take pictures with an animal.
Rugs- Remember that one of the goals of a boho wedding is to bring the cozy indoors outside. Whether it’s down the aisle or on the dance floor, rugs are great way to accomplish this and let your guests know that it’s okay to take their shoes off.
Thrifted Pieces- Thrifting décor is the perfect way to add that vintage feel to your boho wedding while mixing different colors and textures. Lots of couples' thrift glassware so their guests have their own unique table set. Also, the textures talked about earlier can easily be found in thrift stores. Give it a shot because, not only is it affordable, it’s a great way to practice sustainability.
Floral
Boho style wedding florals exchange greenery for statements of pampas grass and dried palm with flowers of different textures, shapes, and sizes. Boho floral arrangements are asymmetrical and put loosley put together giving them a natural appearance. Dried flowers pair well with boho color schemes and add that vintage feel to your wedding. Consider these aspects when designing your arrangment or consulting with your florist and your graunteed to have the perfect boho floral arrangements.
Venue
Ask yourself these questions when choosing a venue for your boho wedding:
Are my wedding colors going to blend into the space?
If forest green is the color of your bridesmaid dresses, avoid getting married in a forest so they don’t blend into the background.
Can everyone move freely between indoors to outdoors?
Outdoor spaces are ideal for a boho wedding. However, if you decide to hold the reception indoors, it is best to find a venue that allows guests to move freely inside and outside. This way the nature around your wedding can still be embraced with the practicality of being indoors.
Does this place embody the aspects of a bohemian style wedding?
If you’re getting married outdoors, consider your biome. A forest or desert will be a lot more aesthetically pleasing for a boho wedding than getting married in a field of wildflowers or snow. If you are getting married indoors, make sure the venue encapsulates what a bohemian wedding is, cozy, vintage and free-spirited.
I found the perfect outdoor wedding venue, but what about rain?
Consider renting a tent. A tent will offer protection from rain and a place to hang arrangements. It’s also the best way to nail that free-spirited aspect of a boho wedding through a venue.
If you love all things vintage, free-spirited, and want to embrace nature in your wedding, a bohemian wedding is right up your alley. Answer the questions in our bridal survey to see if a bohemian style wedding is right for you!
