It is for the purpose of protecting them from hail because you’ll be removing it soon after the threat is over. However, plastic or vinyl tarps aren’t recommended as a long-term way of protecting your plants from frost because they’ll trap too much moisture inside, which is actually not a good thing for your plants. But in the short term, it’s fine to use even an overturned garbage can to protect a plant from hail.

Unless it only rains once in a blue moon where you live, you’re going to want water-loving plants in your garden bed or pot. A few ideas for plants that aren’t super fast-growing (meaning they’re good in pots or near foundations) and can handle a lot of standing water include: 

• Acorus (Sweet flag)

• Colocasia esculenta (Taro or elephant ear): In many climates, these are annuals, making them less desirable because you need to adjust the chain again after each replant.

• Equisetum scirpoides (Dwarf horsetail rush): non-dwarf varieties of horsetail are fast growers and can take over quickly.

• Juncus effusus (Curly rush)

• Osmunda regalis (Royal fern): Royal fern can grow quickly but can also handle being crowded, making them good container plants.

In most cases, buying plants from a local greenhouse or nursery is well worth the investment, even though they tend to be a bit more expensive than those at a home improvement store. Employees at nurseries are usually well-versed in gardening and understand how the climate in your area affects different plants. They can help you make selections based on your skill level and time commitment to your landscaping, and they can provide detailed care instructions and advice to help keep your plants alive and diagnose and treat issues like pest infestation and illness.

You should use mulch because it protects garden soil in a few key ways. This extra layer between the ground and the elements protects against erosion, helps your soil maintain moisture, regulates changes in temperature, adds nutrients as it decomposes, and keeps weeds at bay.