How Do I Protect My Apricot Tree from Frost in Winter and Spring?

Frost threatens apricot trees at two distinct moments in the year: during hard winter freezes that can kill young wood and bark tissue on unprepared or tender trees, and during the flowering period in February–March when even a light frost kills open blossom and ends the year's harvest. The protection strategies for each of these situations are different and require different approaches and materials.

Winter frost: wood and bark protection

Established apricot trees on suitable rootstocks are moderately hardy — the wood and bark tolerate temperatures down to around -15°C or below in dormancy. However, young trees in their first winter are more vulnerable, and bark at the base of the trunk can be damaged by alternating freeze-thaw cycles. Wrap the lower trunk and main scaffold arms of young trees with horticultural fleece or hessian from November to March. In exposed sites, a windbreak cloth to the north and east reduces wind chill significantly.

Spring blossom protection

This is the critical protection window — the two to three weeks when the tree is in blossom (typically February–March in the UK). Monitor daily forecasts. When frost below -1°C is forecast, cover the tree with two layers of horticultural fleece (30 g/m²) before nightfall. The double layer provides 4–6°C of protection, which is usually sufficient for all but the severest UK spring frosts. Remove the cover by mid-morning to allow pollinators access during the day. The fleece must come off during the day — don't leave it on during sunny warm periods.

Canopy misting on frost nights

A less commonly used but very effective method is overhead misting with water during a frost night. When water freezes on the blossom surface it releases latent heat that keeps the flower temperature just above freezing. This requires an automatic misting system and is more practical for commercial growers, but even manual misting just before the coldest part of the night can help in a mild frost event.

Wall as frost buffer

A warm, south-facing brick or stone wall stores daytime heat and radiates it during the night, creating a microclimate several degrees warmer than the open garden. This passive protection — combined with fleece on the coldest nights — makes wall-trained growing the most reliable approach for apricots in northern UK climates.