When the weather starts to turn cold, your plants will need a bit of extra help from you. There are plenty of options for extending your garden season, but homemade DIY cloches are an easy and cheap (usually free) way to protect your plants in cold weather.
In this gardening article, I’ll go over the basics of garden cloches, their effectiveness against cold, the different materials you can use, and a long list of DIY ideas to craft your own. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these tips and tricks will help you keep your garden thriving even as the temperatures drop.
Understanding Garden Cloches
A garden cloche is a hollow and (usually) transparent cover that goes over plants to protect them from outside elements. It can be made from a variety of materials, including glass, plastic, fabric, and even upcycled materials.
Fun fact – The word “cloche” comes from the French word for “bell” which is the traditional shape for cloches.
How does a cloche protect plants from cold weather?
A cloche works by trapping heat and moisture around the plants they are covering. They are basically mini-greenhouses. This helps keep the plants warm and humid, which can help to protect them from frost and other cold weather damage.
How Effective are Cloches with Cold Protection?
Cloches, as simple and affordable as they are, can be very effective at protecting plants from the cold, but how effective are they?
Temperature Regulation: Cloches act as mini-greenhouses, trapping heat inside its walls during the day, creating a microclimate that’s several degrees warmer than the air outside of the cloche. This warmth can be the difference between a plant surviving a frosty night or dying because of the cold.
Frost Prevention: The primary purpose of a cloche is to prevent frost from settling directly on plants. Even a light frost can damage or kill tender plants. Cloches create a barrier, preventing the moisture in the air from settling on the plants and freezing.
Wind Protection: Cold winds can quickly sap the warmth from plants, making them more susceptible to frost damage. Cloches act as small and targeted windbreaks, reducing the chilling effect of cold gusts.
Limitations: While cloches are effective, they are not infallible. In extremely cold conditions, especially longer lasting freezes, a cloche alone might not provide enough protection to save your plants. Your best bet is to combine them with other methods, like mulching or using row covers, for added insulation.
Cloche Material Effectiveness
The amount of protection they offer depends on the type of cloche, the material it is made from, and the weather conditions.
Fabric cloches are lightweight and easy to set up, but they may not be as durable as other materials. Fabric is mostly used to prevent frost from accumulating on plants, but they can provide some insulation and can raise the temperature by 2-6°F (1-3°C), depending on the thickness and type of fabric.
Plastic cloches are lightweight and easy to set up, but they may not be as durable as other materials. They can raise the temperature by several degrees, often 5-10°F (3-5°C) or more, depending on the thickness of the plastic, sunlight, and external conditions. They are also good at insulation and holding heat, but not as well as glass.
Glass cloches are durable and provide good protection against the cold, but they can be heavy, more expensive, and harder to store. A glass cloche can raise the temperature by approximately 5-15°F (3-8°C), depending on the thickness and design. Glass is a natural insulator that traps heat effectively and releases it slowly, providing consistent warmth.
Plants that Cloches can Protect
Cloches are beneficial for a variety of plants, but they are especially beneficial for young plants, seedlings, and tender plants. Cloches are most often used to protect plants like lettuce, spinach, and radishes which are all relatively delicate plants that can be damaged by cold weather or pests.
Here are some examples of plants that can be protected from the cold by a cloche:
- Vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas, and broccoli
- Flowers: Pansies, violas, primroses, and hellebores
- Herbs: Basil, thyme, rosemary, and mint
- Fruits: Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries
- Other plants: Camellias, rhododendrons, and azaleas
Cloche protection can help to extend the growing season for these plants and protect them from frost and other cold weather damage.
Other Benefits of Cloches
Beyond cold protection, cloches also shield plants from pests, strong winds, and heavy rain. They can even be used to create a humid environment for tropical plants or cuttings.
Criteria for DIY Cloche Materials
When crafting a DIY cloche, consider the following properties:
- Transparency: You’ll want the material to be clear so that it allows sunlight to reach the plants.
- Ventilation: Your cloche should have openings or a way to lift it to prevent overheating and provide fresh air.
- Sturdiness: The material should be strong enough to withstand wind and rain without collapsing onto the plants.
- Affordability: The material should be affordable and easy to find. You can definitely make a cloche from expensive materials, but why bother when you can use something as cheap and easy as an empty soda bottle?
How to Make Homemade Cloche for Your Garden
These are a few easy DIY garden cloche instructions. Later in this article there is a longer list of items you can upcycle into a cloche, using similar techniques as these.
DIY Plastic Bottle Cloche:
- Cut the bottom off of a plastic bottle and place it over the plant.
- Make sure the bottle is anchored firmly into the ground so that it does not blow away or get knocked over.
- Remove the cap during the day to ventilate the plant, replacing the cap at night to hold the warmth.
DIY Glass Jar Cloche:
- Remove the lid from a glass jar or bell jar and place it upside down over the plant
- Remember to lift the jar during the day to prevent overheating
DIY Terracotta Pot Cloche:
- Turn a terracotta pot upside down and place it over the plant.
- Make sure the pot is not pressing down the plant and that there is enough ventilation.
- You may need to weigh down the pot with rocks or bricks.
- NOTE – This isn’t an option that should be used regularly since it will block sunlight.
DIY Wire Frame Cloche:
- Cover a wire frame with clear plastic sheeting or fabric.
- Make sure the frame is large enough to cover the plant and that the fabric is not too thick or it will block sunlight.
43 Budget-Friendly & Upcycled DIY Garden Cloche Ideas
Below are 43 ideas for affordable and/or free things you can buy to use as cloches or common products you might have laying around that you can upcycle into a garden cloche. It is by no means a complete list, but just some ideas of what you can use.
- Clear plastic soda bottles (bottom cut off)
- Glass mason jars of various sizes
- Old, clear plastic storage containers or tote bins
- Fish tanks
- Transparent cake covers
- Glass bell jars
- Clear plastic salad containers from takeout
- Old birdcages (lined with clear plastic)
- Glass vases or bowls
- Transparent wine jugs or glass pitchers
- Wire baskets (lined with clear plastic)
- Clear plastic shoeboxes
- Old lampshades (fabric removed and replaced with clear plastic)
- Glass cookie jars with lids removed
- Clear plastic fruit packaging containers
- Clear plastic bakery containers
- Glass drink dispensers
- Terrarium containers
- Glass canning jars
- Clear plastic jugs with handles
- Fishbowl, preferably glass but plastic will do
- Clear plastic cups or tumblers
- Cleaned out glass food containers like pickle jars or jelly
- Glass candle holders or lanterns
- Clear plastic greenhouse trays
- Transparent plastic takeout containers
- Clear plastic cylinder packaging tubes
- Glass dessert or trifle bowls
- Transparent plastic folders or sheet protectors shaped into a dome
- Glass punch bowls
- Clear plastic wrapping or bubble wrap shaped over wireframes
- Old glass display cabinets (for multiple plants)
- Transparent plastic candy containers
- Glass serving cloches
- Clear plastic cylindrical chip containers
- Glass apothecary jars
- Glass display globes from old lighting fixtures
- Milk jugs with the bottom cut off
- Transparent plastic gallon-sized zip-lock bags supported by stakes
- Plastic food storage containers you use for leftovers
- Clear plastic containers from bulk candy or snacks
- Clear plastic clamshell containers from bakery or deli sections
- Glass or acrylic display cases for collectibles
This is just a small sample of the many things you can use to create a budget-friendly or upcycled garden cloche.
If you didn’t see anything you have at your house that you can use, there really are endless other possibilities you can try. Just you should focus on these criteria:
- The cloche should be large enough to cover your plants comfortably with space above and around them
- The cloche should be made of a material that will keep the cold out, but still allow some light in
- The cloche should be sturdy enough to withstand weather conditions like wind, rain, and snow
- The cloche should be easy to put on and take off
- The cloche should be attractive and blend in with your garden – optional, but not a bad idea
With a little creativity and these criteria in mind, you can easily make a homemade cloche that will help to protect your plants from the cold winter weather.
Tips for Using Cloches
When to Use a Cloche
As temperatures start to dip, especially during nighttime, it’s time to place your cloche over vulnerable plants.
How Long to Use a Cloche
While it’s tempting to leave the cloche on indefinitely, plants also need fresh air. On warmer days, lift the cloche for a few hours to allow ventilation.
Monitoring your Cloche Use
Keep an eye on the weather forecast. If a warm spell is predicted, it might be a good idea to remove the cloche entirely for that period.
Ventilate your Cloche
Always ensure there’s adequate ventilation, especially on sunny days, to prevent plants from overheating.
Experiment and Share
Garden cloches, whether store-bought or DIY, are invaluable tools for gardeners with plants out in the cold. They not only extend the growing season but also help keep our plants healthy and vibrant. So, the next time you spot an old plastic bottle or glass jar, think twice before throwing it out. It might just be the perfect protective shield for your garden plants!
Here are some additional tips for using cloches:
- Make sure that the cloche is large enough to cover your plant.
- Place the cloche over your plant before the first frost.
- Remove the cloche during the day to allow your plant to get sunlight.
- Replace the cloche at night or on cloudy days.
- Water your plants regularly, even when they are under a cloche.
With a little creativity, you can turn everyday items into protective shields for your garden, saving money and reducing waste in the process.
What have you made into a cloche in your garden? Let us know in the comments.
