Why Will Spraying Fruit Trees With Water Before a Frost Help to Protect the Fruit From Freezing?
Frost can damage to plants of all types. However, they seem to hit certain fruit tree crops harder, because the fruit is developing around the same time as the frost season begins in the fall. Most fruits are developing during the fall and spring and can be irreparably damaged by the effects of the frost. Frost forms ice crystals on the outside of the plants. This pulls moisture out of the plant, causing dehydration in a localized area. The frost also penetrates inside the plant cells, rupturing them. Some farmers will use a technique that calls for spraying the trees with water to help lessen the damage of frost. This is normally done late in the evening so the water will still be on the plant when temperatures drop to freezing. This creates a layer of ice on the outside of the plant, which keeps the moisture inside the leaves and fruit from being hit by the frost. Also, the water’s evaporation generates heat. Spraying or keeping the soil around the trees damp can also stave off frost
