To see for yourself, put a glass in the freezer for several hours and then fill it with warm water. Don't do this experiment with your favorite glass because it won't be usable afterward. It will shatter exactly as frozen plant cells do when warm faucet water strikes them. The best way to prevent cell damage after a light freeze has occurred is to attempt to slowly thaw these cells. This can be accomplished by covering plants with a sheet or blanket to shield them from the sun's warming rays, which will do the same harm as warm faucet water. This technique will also work on certain ornamentals, such as petunias. Prevention is a better effort. Covering plants at dusk with newspaper, sheets, drop cloths, or other similar materials and removing them before they are sun struck may extend plant life a few days. Remember, survival is possible only after a light frost or freeze. Following a hard cold snap, these techniques are wasted effort.

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