How to Protect Plants from Hailstorms
Growing up in a region known as Hailstorm Alley, one of the most susceptible areas to hailstorms in the world, I was accustomed to seeing the damage that hailstones can cause to a garden. It’s a nightmare for gardeners, watching weeks of hard work obliterated in mere seconds. And if you live in a zone with a short growing season like I do, one or two bad hailstorms can eliminate the chance of a successful crop. So how do you protect plants from hailstorms? Let’s look at a few ways to prevent, or at least minimize, damage from hailstones.
Childhood Lessons on Hailstorms
Hailstorms in my region are almost a sure thing in the summer. The question is not if we’ll get a hailstorm, but when and how severe. We’ve had hail the size of softballs that have shattered windshields and caused over a billion dollars in damage. So gardeners have had to develop strategies to protect their plants.
My mom was an avid gardener in her younger years. She loved decorating her patio and front yard with flowers, and it really was a beautiful sight to behold.
She was especially fond of petunias, so when a hailstorm loomed, my mom would frantically sound the alarm to bring her flowers in. It required quick action to save those delicate petals from being ravaged. Together, we would rush in and out of the front and back doors, bringing pot after pot into the house.
This was such a habitual routine that even when my mom wasn’t home, I would run out of the house at the first sounds of hail and pull her beautifully arrayed flower pots in. I knew how important they were to her, and how disappointed she would be if her flowers were destroyed.
This was the first method I learned as a child, and it works quite well if you have potted plants that are not too heavy to pick up, and if you have sufficient time to bring your plants in. It does not, however, work for garden beds. Other methods are needed in this instance.
Row Covers
Row covers are an excellent choice for protecting plants from not only hail but also pests. Choose a lightweight fabric like this one that allows air, light, and water to penetrate while protecting from hail. It’s best to use hoops to support the cover and keep it off the plants to prevent damage to the foliage, and to provide better air circulation. And don’t forget to secure the fabric tightly so it doesn’t blow away!
Netting
Hail netting is another great option which is similar to row covers. The difference is the material; hail netting has a bit of stretch to it which means hailstones are more likely to bounce off it rather than break through it. This is important if there is ever a storm with larger hailstones. Again, you’ll want to use hoops, stakes, or frames to keep the netting from crushing the plants.
Hoop Houses
These structures are a little pricier but can protect your garden from hailstones while also extending your growing season. They trap heat inside which warms up the soil, but a lighter-weight fabric can be used in the summer months for more aeration.
Cold Frames
Cold frames are similar to a small greenhouse. They have a four-sided frame constructed of wooden boards with a plastic or glass top. It’s designed to protect and harden off seedlings, but it also protects delicate plants from hail.
They can be purchased relatively inexpensively, or built if you’re handy.
Buckets
If you haven’t planned ahead when a hailstorm hits, you can always shield individual plants with overturned buckets, containers, or cardboard boxes. These work quite well provided they are large enough to cover the plant. In an emergency, these will do in a pinch; however, the limitation of buckets is that they cover only a small area, so they are not sufficient for a garden.
Temporary Shelters
This one is similar to what my mom had me do as a kid. Move your potted plants under any kind of shelter – a covered deck, an overhanging roof, or in a shed or garage. This can be done ahead of time if a hailstorm is forecasted, or in an emergency.
Burlap Bags
Another emergency measure which I’ve employed is throwing burlap bags over plants.
If you have flowering plants that need to be pollinated, you will not want to keep netting over them. I keep hoops in place, and when a hailstorm hits, I quickly throw burlap bags over the hoops. The hoops prevent the bags from crushing the plants while being strong enough to protect them from hailstones.
It’s not very sophisticated, but it works!
Plant Placement
This is one of my favourite strategies as it has worked quite well for me in the past.
I had my two raised garden beds placed up against the fence where the branches of my neighbour’s enormous green ash hung. This tree provided excellent protection from hailstones, and I was a little devastated when they sold the house and the new owner cut the tree down.
One potential problem with this method is squirrels. Read more about how to keep squirrels out of your garden here.
Aside from trees, you can also situate your plants below large shrubs and overhangs.
After a Hailstorm
If you are not able to implement one of the above methods and your plants get hit, then it’s time to apply some post-hail care.
First, assess the damage. Look for broken leaves and stems, and prune these to prevent disease.
Damaged plants will need to recover, so compost or a balanced fertilizer can be added to the soil to provide nutrients that will aid this process.
If you’d like to be even more proactive, you can apply a fungicide to prevent infections in damaged plants.
Final Thoughts
Even if you live in a hail-prone region, there are many strategies you can implement to protect your plants. Do your research and choose methods that make sense for your needs and budget. And don’t forget to give some TLC to any plants that do get hit.