Kaffir Lime Care – Protection in Winter
by Kasma Loha-unchit
14. Extra Protection From Winter Cold
If you live in a frost-free area, following suggestions already given in the above sections is generally sufficient to see your kaffir lime tree through the Bay Area winter. With its temperate climate root system a mature kaffir lime tree is pretty hardy and can withstand brief periods of freezing weather, especially if it is in a sheltered location, such as near a wall of the house or by a fence surrounded by other large plants. Spreading a thick layer of mulch around the plant can give the roots extra warmth, but be careful not to have the mulch cover the crown or touch the trunk of the tree. During those nights when there's a frost warning, you can provide extra protection by simply throwing a light blanket or flannel sheet over the tree in the evening, removing it the following morning as the weather warms to give the tree the light it needs.
In inland areas where night-time temperatures frequently plummet below freezing, you might need to rig up something for the season to provide extra warmth for your plant. Four Winds suggests stringing outdoor Christmas tree lights which you can turn on during those frosty nights. Another suggestion is to rig up a frost protection cloth above the plant. I've not needed to do either and am away in Thailand during the coldest part of winter anyway. My house sitter is given instructions to throw a blanket over the potted plant on the sunny patio which is surrounded by other potted plants near the greenhouse wall. The other tree which is planted in the ground between my house and the neighbor's does just fine without any special treatment even during extended periods of frost as the walls of both houses radiate enough warmth to keep temperatures above freezing.
Although stringing Christmas tree lights sounds charming and festive, I think the practically of such a suggestion would have to first be taken into consideration. It depends a lot on where your tree is situated in your garden – whether it is near a properly grounded electrical outlet. If not, you need to consider whether you want to run a long, heavy duty extension cord from the house out to the tree and do it in such a way that the cord doesn't look unsightly in your garden or be where someone might trip over it. In my situation, if I had to make a choice, I'd probably go for the easier route of sheltering the plant with a frost cloth, which is much like throwing a blanket over the plant. Stringing lights on a large tree isn't as easy as it sounds; there are thorns to avoid and you'd have to be careful that none of the lights touch a branch as that can burn the bark should the lights be left on for too long. Damaged bark can invite insect pests. Then you'd have to carefully remove the lights in the spring as it would look silly to keep the lights on all year.
But of course, it's a personal choice how you wish to provide your tree with that extra protection during frosty nights.
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