Protect Pipes and Plants From Freezing: Your First Freeze Checklist

The first freeze never sends a polite warning. One day it’s sweater weather. The next morning, your garden is limp and your outdoor faucet is a block of ice.

The good news is that this is easy to prepare for. A little work this weekend can save you a burst pipe and a dead patio. Here is how to protect pipes and plants from freezing before the cold arrives.

Know What You’re Up Against

Not every cold night is the same. A frost happens when temperatures hover near 32 degrees. It can nip tender plants like basil and tomatoes.

A hard freeze means temperatures fall to about 28 degrees or lower for several hours. That is the one that kills most tender plants and puts your plumbing at risk.

Water expands when it freezes. That expansion can crack pipes, fittings, and outdoor spigots. So watch the forecast and act before the temperature drops, not after.

How to Protect Your Pipes From Freezing

Pipes in unheated spaces are the most vulnerable. Think garages, crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls. Start with these steps.

1. Disconnect and store your garden hoses. A hose left attached traps water in the spigot. That water freezes and can split the pipe inside your wall. Drain each hose and coil it for storage.

2. Shut off and drain outdoor faucets. If your home has a shutoff valve for outdoor lines, close it. Then open the outdoor faucet to let any leftover water drain out.

3. Cover the spigots. Foam faucet covers are cheap and easy to install. Look for them at any hardware store. They slow heat loss on a cold night.

4. Insulate exposed pipes. Foam pipe sleeves slip right over pipes in garages and crawl spaces. Choose the right diameter and press them snugly in place.

5. Open the cabinet doors. On a freezing night, open the cabinets under sinks on exterior walls. Warm air from the room can then reach the pipes.

6. Let a faucet drip. A slow trickle keeps water moving. Moving water is harder to freeze. It also relieves pressure if ice does form.

7. Keep the heat on. If you travel, don’t turn the thermostat off. Many experts suggest keeping it at 55 degrees or higher.

8. Find your main water shutoff. Know where it is before you need it. If a pipe bursts, shutting off the water fast limits the damage.

If a Pipe Freezes

If water slows to a trickle, you may have a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open. Warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or a heating pad.

Never use an open flame. That is a fire hazard. If you can’t find or thaw the frozen section, call a licensed plumber.

How to Protect Your Plants From Freezing

Plants are tougher than they look, but they have limits. A few simple moves help them make it through the night.

1. Water the soil first. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil. Give your beds a good soaking in the afternoon before a freeze. Don’t water at night in freezing weather.

2. Cover plants before sunset. Use bedsheets, blankets, or frost cloth. Drape the cover all the way to the ground. This traps heat rising from the soil.

3. Skip the bare plastic. Plastic that touches leaves can transfer cold and damage them. If you use it, prop it up on stakes so it doesn’t rest on the plant.

4. Remove covers in the morning. Once temperatures rise, take the covers off. Plants can overheat under them in the sun.

5. Add mulch. Spread two to three inches of mulch around the base of plants. Shredded leaves, straw, or bark all work. Mulch insulates the roots and slows swings in soil temperature.

6. Bring containers inside. Pots lose heat quickly because the roots are exposed on all sides. Move them into the garage, a porch, or the house.

7. Group the stragglers. If you can’t carry everything in, cluster the pots together near the house. Cover them as a group.

8. Harvest what’s ready. Pick tomatoes, peppers, and herbs before the freeze. Green tomatoes can ripen indoors. Basil won’t survive a freeze at all.

A Quick Word on Lights

Old-style incandescent string lights give off a little heat. Tucked under a frost cloth, they can add a few degrees of warmth. Modern LED lights stay cool, so they won’t help here. Keep any cords and bulbs away from dry cloth and use outdoor-rated products.

Don’t Forget the Sprinklers

If you have an irrigation system, drain it or have it winterized. Insulate any exposed backflow preventer, too. These parts are pricey to replace, and they are easy to overlook.

Your Pre-Freeze Checklist

Print this and stick it on the fridge:

• Disconnect and store the hoses
• Shut off and drain outdoor faucets
• Cover spigots and insulate exposed pipes
• Open the cabinets and let a faucet drip
• Water the soil and add mulch
• Cover plants and move pots indoors
• Know where your main shutoff valve is

Be Ready Before the Cold Hits

A first freeze is a sneaky guest. But a couple of hours of prep goes a long way. Protect your pipes, cover your plants, and check the forecast every day this season.

Your future self will thank you when the cold snap comes and everything is still standing.