The late March frost of 2026 caught thousands of gardeners off guard, just as their carefully nurtured seedlings were settling into their new outdoor homes. For gardeners eager to get cool‑season crops in the ground, those few days can make a difference. While most gardeners scrambled for row covers and expensive frost blankets, those who knew about the surprisingly effective newspaper method watched their plants survive unscathed.
If none of the above is available, four or five sheets of newspaper can also be substituted. To prevent the newspaper from blowing away, lightly moisten the paper with a hose. This revelation from University of Georgia Extension horticulturist Paul Thomas challenges everything we think we know about frost protection.
The Science Behind the Surprising Solution
What makes moistened newspaper so effective? The answer lies in understanding how frost actually damages plants. "It's not the cold that kills the plant; it's the ice freezing within the plant tissue. The tiny ice crystals literally shred the plant's cell from the inside out," said Paul Thomas, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension horticulture specialist.
The counter-intuitive power of wet newspaper comes from basic physics. When you lightly moisten those layers of newsprint, you create a thermal mass that absorbs heat during the day and releases it slowly throughout the night. The moisture acts as an insulator while the paper provides structure, creating a protective microclimate around your vulnerable seedlings.
It may sound a little counter-intuitive, but watering your garden before an exceptionally chilly evening can help protect plants from frost damage. Stressed, thirsty plants are more susceptible to frost damage. This principle extends to your protective coverings as well. The dampened newspaper not only stays in place better than dry paper but also creates a more stable temperature environment.
The key difference between this method and expensive store-bought covers lies in accessibility and adaptability. "That will prevent 90 percent of frost damage down to about 20 degrees," Thomas says. "Considering that the average person might put $200 into their vegetable garden, for a little extra money in pine straw you can buy yourself some insurance." But newspaper costs pennies and can be deployed instantly when weather forecasts change.
Implementation and Timing Strategies
It's best to have all covers in place well before sunset. Water your plants lightly before you cover them in the late afternoon or early evening. Apply covers in the early evening as winds die down, and remove the coverings when temperatures rise the next day (mid-morning) so plants can get full exposure to the warming sunlight.
The effectiveness of this method depends heavily on proper timing and technique. Begin your frost protection routine in the late afternoon by gently watering your seedlings at soil level. This ensures the plants are well-hydrated and the surrounding soil can act as a heat reservoir. Water new plants at their base in the morning, the day before a frost. Hydrated roots are much less susceptible to cold damage than roots that are on the drier side.
As the sun begins to set, lay your newspaper sections over the seedlings, then use a gentle spray from your hose to dampen the paper. The moisture should be sufficient to prevent the paper from blowing away but not so heavy that it creates waterlogged conditions. I have since read that sheets tend to work better since when the are draped over they have more ground surface area that then will release its heat upwards to protect the plants. Newspaper follows this same principle, trapping ground heat while providing insulation.
Once temperatures drop below about 28°F, covering is typically no longer effective at preventing cold damage. Occasionally, even with covering, you may still see damage at temperatures above 28°F, especially when the below-freezing temperatures are prolonged (5 hours or more). Understanding these limitations helps you set realistic expectations and prepare backup protection for severe cold snaps.
Beyond the Basics: Maximizing Your Success
While the moistened newspaper method proves remarkably effective for light to moderate frosts, successful gardeners combine it with other protective strategies. Moist soil can hold up to four times more heat than dry soil, conducting heat faster to the soil surface and keeping the air above it about five degrees (F) warmer. So water well before a frost.
Slightly moist soil holds and releases more heat overnight than dry soil. If a cold night is coming, I give beds a light watering in the late afternoon, then add covers right before sunset. This small move can raise temperatures at the soil surface and help protect roots and the lowest foliage. It seems counterintuitive, but it works for mild conditions.
The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and immediate availability. When weather forecasts suddenly shift and overnight temperatures threaten to drop unexpectedly, you don't need to rush to the garden center for expensive row covers that may already be sold out. Every household has newspapers, and the technique requires no special tools or expertise.
For gardeners facing the uncertainty of late spring weather patterns, this method represents both practical wisdom and economic sense. We're gardeners, too, and we know what it means to have this information: in certain areas, it allows you to get a jump on the planting season; in other areas, it helps you avoid disaster! The moistened newspaper technique embodies this principle perfectly, offering an accessible solution that can mean the difference between a thriving spring garden and starting over from scratch.
