O/T: Freeze advice

Okay, for the second time in the last three years it looks like we're going to have a freeze here in southern MO.

We have no garden stuff out which cannot handle cold weather. In addition to which, we have what it takes to cover them if necessary.

I need advice about fruit trees. We've got a big wild pear tree which just finished bloom and is starting to leaf out. We've got several plum trees which are at various stages of bloom. My biggest concern is a dozen and a half apple trees, of which about half have very slowly been getting around to flowering and are now starting to open. The other half of the apple trees are only just showing signs of waking up.

The current forecast calls for temps in the mid to upper 20s Sunday night, mid to lower 20s Monday night, and still cold Tuesday night. We are on a north facing slope and always manage to experience the lower figures in the temperature range.

What could be done to protect as many of the trees and blossoms as possible. The apple trees and plums are still rather small as we planted them about 4 years ago. The pear would probably have to fend for itself as it is very large. I have thought of covering, sprinkling or barrels with fires in them. This is the first year that most of the apples are really showing lots of bloom and I am willing to at least try.

Does anyone have ANY suggestions for what we could do? Thank you in advance.

Christopher

I've had tomatoes well into November by covering the plants with a plastic tarp- but not sure if it would work unless you could get the tarp over the tree and all the way to the ground, because I think it works because of relatively higher temperature of the ground keeps it heated under the tarp. Irrigation during freeze works on cranberries- covers them with coating of ice, which keeps temp at 32 degrees- but maybe fruit blossoms are too fragile for that.

Well trees are to big to cover so you either have to have smug pots going or sprinklers going to keep them warm enough
Hobby farm

From a Kansas State University staff member via a list serve email: "If the temperature gets down to about 25 we will probably lose about 90% of the fruit buds. The tree will be fine but the fruit crop will not. However, if the fruit buds are still in tight bud we should see minimal damage."

Using sprinkling and ice for prevention--link below.
Ice for fruit tree damage prevention