Freeze Warning Issued for Maple Grove, Hennepin County

The National Weather Service is warning that temperatures will likely fall below freezing overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday in the Twin Cities metro area, including Hennepin County.

Freezing temperatures are highly likely between 1 and 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, with the warning being in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to the weather service warning.

A "hard freeze is expected," according to the National Weather Service, with overnight temperatures dipping into the upper teens to mid-20s.

The conditions could kill sensitive plants, with tender, young vegetation at the highest risk, the warning says.

Temperatures are forecast to reach a high near 51 on Wednesday.

Here are a few tips from master gardener and Maple Grove resident Marilyn Arlund, , to protect plants from potential freezing temperatures.

• Decide which flowers and/or vegetables are the most important ones to “save” during a frost.

• Cover plants with sheets, light blankets or other coverings. Smaller plants can be covered with pails, tubs, or milk jugs with the bottom cut off.  “You can also put old shower curtains, tarps or unfolded newspapers over your plants to protect them,” Arnlund offers.

• Group plants together, adding mulch on top of the soil in plant beds or containers to keep the soil warm. Add stakes in the containers or beds to create a tent so the ground won’t loose too much heat and plants aren’t touching coverings that have a frost buildup.