5 Types of Plant Covers that Gardeners Should Use

A simple cover in your garden can make the difference between frost-damaged and healthy plants, scorched and shaded plants, and pest-free and pest-infested plants. Plant covers are an excellent way to protect your plants from hungry pests and help them survive the colder conditions longer. They allow you to extend the growing season and harvest plants well into fall and winter. Finding the right plant cover for gardeners, landscapers, and greenhouse growers can keep your plants healthy and thriving.

In this guide, we look at the five popular plant cover types to achieve the healthy, pest-free garden of your dreams. At the end of the blog, we'll also share a type of natural plant cover you can use to protect your plants and soil naturally.

Why Gardeners Should Use Plant Covers

Outdoor plants are vulnerable to many issues and covering them is a smart way to prevent them. There are several reasons to use plant covers in your garden. Here are the most common and important ones.

• They provide shade to heat-sensitive plants in summer and retain soil moisture.
• They prevent pests from laying eggs and feeding on your plants.
• They shield vegetables from rabbits, squirrels, and groundhogs.
• They prevent birds from eating your berry harvest.
• They protect young seedlings and sensitive plants from strong winds, late spring frosts, and other harsh weather conditions.
• They speed up the germination of plants directly seeded into the garden.
• They protect peppers, tomatoes, and other warm season crops from early fall frosts to extend the growing season.

1. Row Covers

Row covers and frost fabric are designed to allow for good ventilation while retaining heat. They can also allow moisture from rain to pass through. These plant covers are light enough not to put too much weight on the plants, so they will not break. However, they are heavy enough to offer warmth and keep heat trapped around the plants. Row covers can protect your newly sown seeds or seedlings from pests. Since they allow light and moisture, you don't need to remove them during the day.

You can use two types of row covers for the garden: fleece and plastic. Fleece row covers insulate frost-sensitive plants but is also permeable, allowing moisture in. Clear plastic covers produce a greenhouse-like effect; therefore, conditions under plastic covers can be highly warmer than outside.

Gardeners can use both types to extend the growth season, but plastic covers work better in extremely cold locations. However, you need to monitor the plants regularly to ensure they do not overheat. When using row covers, you'll need stakes, rocks, or clips to secure them.

Best for:

• Protecting vegetables and fruit and extending the growing season
• Protecting crops from pests and birds during ripening
• Protecting plants from frost

2. Burlap

Burlap is a breathable, inexpensive, and eco-friendly material perfect for wrapping shrubs, young trees, and perennials. It provides insulation and protection to plants against harsh winter conditions while allowing light and air to pass through. Evergreen plants can suffer from winter burns if exposed to too much light and do not receive enough hydration during the cold months. This can cause their foliage to become brown and greatly affect plant beauty and overall health. The durable burlap material protects the plant and keeps it from going through winter burn.

Ideally, burlap wrap shouldn't touch your plants, so support it with wooden stakes to create a tent-like structure. This prevents wet burlap covers from damaging leaves and ensures the cover does not blow away in the wind.

Best for:

• Protecting shrubs, small trees, and potted plants from frost and wind
• It can also be used as a weed barrier

3. Cloches

Cloches are another excellent plant cover that all gardeners can use for protection in winter and spring. You may think of them as typical glass bell-shaped covers, but they come in various forms, materials, and sizes. These portable and permanent covers are popular in the Mediterranean climate of the Pacific Northwest, where cool springs and cooler summers mean lower temperatures for growing vegetables. Cloches are available in various materials such as classic glass, plastic, breathable fabric, and wire cloches covered with mesh material.

Cloches are great temporary protective tools for fragile plants against sudden frosts. Your first frost date can be months away, but a sudden burst of cold weather can occur at any time. If it occurs, don't panic; instead, place some cloches over your most frost-sensitive plants to help them survive another few weeks.

The good thing is that there are plenty of DIY homemade cloches ideas, such as plastic bottles, jars, and mugs for small-scale gardening. Check out this guide on building your raised-bed cloche. Remember, they are not ideal for covering large shrubs or large areas of plants.

Best for:

• Protecting sensitive plants in a small garden
• Covering individual plants

4. Cold Frames

Cold frames are the most durable plant covers. They are usually made of wood and glass. Their hinge mechanism allows gardeners to quickly check on plants and let in air on bright sunny days. Cold frames are available in various sizes and are simple to build.

Many winter gardeners use cold frames to protect their crops from frost and freezing conditions. With these plant covers, you can harvest some crops during the winter, even if there is snow on the ground. You should consider creating cold frames to cover your raised beds in extremely cold climates. The key is to schedule your plantings so that the plants are almost completely grown when the weather turns cold because the growth slows profoundly during the colder months.

Best for:

• Protecting fall and winter crops in cold climates
• Providing frost protection to your vegetables

5. Pop-up Greenhouse or Pop-up Plant Covers

Pop-up greenhouses, also known as mini greenhouses, are easy-to-use, temporary plastic structures designed to mimic greenhouse conditions. This greenhouse has two zipped doors for instant access to plants and is easy to assemble without any tools. In winter, your plants will remain cozy inside this warm covering. When placed in a sheltered space, it offers a great spot for starting seeds or hardening off young plants on the arrival of spring.

Unlike permanent greenhouse structures, pop-up covers are more vulnerable to harsh weather conditions like snow and heavy wind. Therefore, they are ideal to use in warmer climates without heavy wind.

Best for:

• Starting seeds early in spring
• Providing instant frost protection

Bonus Type: Mulch

Mulching doesn't seem like a traditional plant cover, but it's an excellent natural way to protect plants and enrich the soil. It is one of the most versatile plant protection strategies that is often overlooked.

In cold weather, a layer of mulch around plants insulates roots and keeps them warm throughout the winter. When the weather turns warmer, it cools down the soil. Mulch also helps retain soil moisture and reduce watering requirements. Organic mulch like compost, bark chips, raked fall leaves, and shredded paper can enhance soil condition as they break down.

The Bottom Line

Worried about frost, hungry birds, pests, bright sunlight, or intense wind? Use one of these protective structures.

Are you worried about frost, hungry birds, pests, bright sunlight, or intense wind? Consider one of these protective structures.

A vegetable gardener encounters many problems during their gardening journey, a simple plant cover can solve most of them. Think of plant covers as a valuable investment rather than a hassle. The right cover can protect your plants from pests, including mammals and birds, prevent frost damage, extend the growing season, and keep your crops healthy. These protective structures will make your gardening so much easier and fruitful. All five plant covers can function as pest barriers, frost protection, and shade cloth. You can reuse them every season as they're inexpensive and easy to store when not in use.

Start your experience with one plant cover to address your pressing issue and see how a simple structure can help your garden flourish.