As fall and winter arrive, you might be living in an area that can get pretty chilly at night. If you can't go outside without feeling like your limbs and fingers could snap off from the cold, chances are your plants feel that way too!

If you're living in Southern California or some parts of Florida, this might not be too much of an issue as seasons don't fully exist in those climates, but your garden may benefit from this tip if you live in a zone with colder winters and plunging nighttime temperatures.

There are two types of cold that can threaten your garden: a light frost and a hard freeze. A light frost is predicted if the temperature for the night is said to hit 32°F (0°C). This dropping temperature and formation of frost can be an issue for your garden, but there is a simple solution we will introduce you to! A hard freeze is predicted if temperatures in the area are to reach 28 to 25° F (-4 to -2°C) and this can cause major destruction to your garden if no barrier is put in place.

To protect your garden from the cold temperatures and frost, simply use any old sheet or light blanket to cover your plants, holding it down with rocks or pieces of wood. You can even add a layer of plastic over the blanket for extra insulation, but don't use the plastic alone as it can sometimes cause damage to your plants. For nights predicted to have a hard freeze, an added measure is to add a jug of warm water under the barrier to add warmth to the insulation!

If you do use this method to protect your little plants, make sure to take the blanket off in the morning so they get their daily sunshine. It is very important you take it off the morning after because if left on for the next cold night it can cause your plants to freeze over with all the condensation under the cover.

If your plants are small enough, individual barriers can be made by cutting the bottoms of bottles or jugs to slip over the top of your plants to protect them from the frost. And if a colder night is expected, add the cloth layer on top of that for added insulation!

Once your plant covers are removed the next morning when the sun is up, make sure to keep them off of the ground and in a clean spot so no pests ruin them or use them to get a free ride into the garden for a late night feast!