Will Shade Cloth Work As a Frost Cloth?

Types of Frost

• Two types radiation frosts occur. According to the University of California Davis, these include white frosts -- where white, frosty ice crystals form on the surface of plants -- and black frosts, where ice does not form on plant surfaces, but forms internally, causing more damage. Black frosts are actually freezes. Frost covers are primarily used for white frosts, but can be used along with other forms of protection to guard against black frosts. During advective frosts, water inside plant tissues freezes and forms ice crystals that damage cells. Frost covers alone are insufficient to maintain the temperatures that spare plants from advective frost damage.

Types of Shade Cloth

• Shade cloth can sometimes be used as a frost cloth. Shade cloth is made in knitted and woven versions. Knitted shade cloth is the lighter-weight of the two. Both types of shade cloth are created with spaces between the strands of material used in their construction. The amount of open space is graded using percentages; lower percent cloth has wider spaces in the material's weave, while cloths graded as 80 or 90 percent have much less open space between strands.

Shade Cloth Considerations

• High percentage shade cloths provide better protection than lower percentage versions, but with any openings in the weave, the cloths will offer only partial protection to your plants. Other benefits of shade cloth include good ventilation and some wind protection. The cloth offers poor insulation or trapping of heat, but would serve as minimal protection for most plants and good protection for plants you want to harden to colder weather.

Frost Cloth

• Frost cloth is lightweight enough to be used in direct contact with even small, tender plants. This type of cloth conserves moisture and offers ventilation. When draped to the ground, frost cloth will trap heat from the soil around plants. This material is suitable for light or white frost protection. Frost cloths may be left over plants for longer periods without causing damage to the plants. Most other coverings must be removed as soon as possible after the danger of frost passes.

Other Covers

• You can use other materials to cover plants in a pinch, including sheets and blankets. Frost collects on these materials, rather than on delicate plant surfaces. The University of Arizona suggests even paper performs well in some situations, such as when used for wrapping tree trunks. Clear plastic mulch warms the soil and helps trap moisture. Usually used at ground level, plastic can be used to cover plants as a barrier to frost. Additionally, floating row covers give plants 2 to 4 degrees F. of frost protection and shields them against wind and pests, according to Colorado State University Extension.