How to Protect Your Garden Plants and Landscape Shrubs from Winter Frost

From The American Agriculturist, 1867

Guard Against Frosts - It usually is the case that after the first few frosts we have a long succession of golden autumn days, just made for ripening fruit and bringing out the late blooming flowers. A very slight covering will protect a plant, and those who have a choice grape or tomato that is late in ripening, or Dahlias or other plants that are just in the height of their bloom, should have at hand some screen to protect them from the first frosts. A sheet or other cloth put up tent wise, or stretched in any way over the plant, will be all that is needed. In England the amateur-fruit growers have regular fixtures, upon which a covering may be stretched when the trees are in flower, as well as when the fruit is
ripening.

 

From Park's Floral Magazine, 1892

After the ground has become frozen it will be well to furnish protection to the hardy roses, shrubs and bulbs. Clean straw placed around the plants a few inches deep does nicely for most kinds. The ever-bloomers should be pegged down and covered with straw before the ground gets a hard freeze. Lay some bricks or sticks over the straw, to keep the wind from blowing it away.