Frost and insect covers play crucial roles in gardening and agriculture, offering protection to plants from various environmental threats, including cold temperatures and pest damage.

Frost protection: Frost covers, also known as frost blankets or row covers, are used to shield plants from frost damage, which can occur when temperatures drop below freezing. These covers provide insulation by trapping heat radiating from the soil, creating a warmer microclimate around the plants. By raising the temperature within the cover, frost protection extends the growing season, allowing gardeners to start planting earlier in the spring and continue harvesting later into the fall. This is particularly beneficial for tender or frost-sensitive plants, such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and annual flowers, which can be damaged or killed by frost.

Insect protection: Insect covers, also known as insect nets or insect screens, serve as physical barriers to prevent pests such as insects, birds, rodents, and larger animals like deer from accessing and damaging plants. These covers are typically made from fine-mesh materials that exclude pests while allowing air, light, and moisture to penetrate.

FEWER Chemicals are needed!  Insect covers are particularly effective for protecting crops from common garden pests such as aphids, whiteflies, cabbage worms, flea beetles, and birds, which can feed on leaves, flowers, fruits, or roots and cause significant damage or yield losses. By excluding pests, insect covers help reduce the need for chemical pesticides and promote more sustainable pest management practices in the garden or field.

Did you know they also prevent the transmission of plant diseases by insect vectors, such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi, further protecting plant health and productivity?

For more info on what weight cover you need, contact your local extension agent.  

NC/VA Strawberry Growers click here  for local recommendations.

Contact Berry Hill Irrigation Specialists to learn more about frost and insect covers.