Method and apparatus for the protection of citrus trees from frost damage

A protective device for protecting a citrus tree from damage due to frost, said citrus tree having a budunion and a circumference, said protective device comprising:

• a protective pad, said protective pad having two opposing end edges and a length measured therebetween sufficient such that said protective pad may be wrapped around the trunk of the tree in a generally upright position proximate to and surrounding the budunion of the tree and creating a barrier to retard the loss of thermal energy from the proximity of the trunk of the tree;
• means for securing said protective pad in said generally upright position wrapped around the trunk of the tree;
• at least one generally self-contained exothermic heat source positioned between said protective pad and the trunk of the tree and capable of generating sufficient thermal energy when activated to warm the tree to prevent frost damage to the budunion of the tree, said exothermic heat source including a packet having an interior cavity containing a generally dry chemical composition, said packet being permeable to oxygen, said chemical composition producing thermal energy through an oxidation reaction when said packet and said chemical composition are selectively exposed to oxygen;
• a flexible insulating jacket, said insulating jacket containing a fluid which absorbs greater quantities of heat per unit volume than air, said insulating jacket being wrapped around the trunk of the tree and being disposed substantially between said exothermic heat source and the trunk of the tree such that said fluid initially retards the transmission of thermal energy from said exothermic heat source to the trunk of the tree, and thereby absorbs and retains said thermal energy and subsequently transmits said thermal energy to the tree over an extended period of time;
• and
• means for securing said exothermic heat source at a predetermined position relative to said protective pad and the trunk of the tree.

A protective device for protecting a portion of a citrus tree from damage due to frost, said protective device comprising:

• a protective pad, said protective pad having two opposing end edges and a length measured therebetween sufficient such that said protective pad may be wrapped around the portion of the tree and creating a barrier to retard the loss of thermal energy from the proximity of the portion of the tree;
• means for securing said protective pad around the portion of the tree;
• at least one generally self-contained exothermic heat source positioned between said protective pad and the portion of the tree and capable of generating sufficient thermal energy when activated to warm the portion of the tree to prevent frost damage, said exothermic heat source including a packet having an interior cavity containing a generally dry chemical composition, said packet being permeable to oxygen, said chemical composition producing thermal energy through an oxidation reaction when said packet and said chemical composition are selectively exposed to oxygen;
• and
• means for securing said exothermic meat source at a predetermined position relative to said protective pad.

A method of protecting a citrus tree from damage due to frost, said citrus tree having a trunk or branch with a circumference, said method comprising the steps of:

• wrapping the citrus tree in a protective pad which retains thermal energy in the proximity of the trunk or branch of the tree and retards the loss of thermal energy from the proximity of the trunk or branch of the tree;
• activating at least one generally self-contained exothermic heat source, said exothermic heat source including a packet having an interior cavity containing a generally dry chemical composition, said packet being permeable to oxygen, said chemical composition producing thermal energy through an oxidation reaction when said packet and said chemical composition are selectively exposed to oxygen;
• positioning said exothermic heat source in a predetermined position between said protective pad and the trunk or branch of the tree with said exothermic heat source generating sufficient thermal energy when activated to warm the tree to prevent frost damage to the tree;
• and
• securing said protective pad in position wrapped around the trunk or branch of the tree.

A method of protecting a citrus tree from damage due to frost, said citrus tree having a trunk or branch with a circumference, said method comprising the steps of:

• wrapping an insulating jacket around the trunk of the tree, said insulating jacket containing a fluid which absorbs a greater quantity of heat per unit volume than air;
• wrapping a protective pad around the trunk or branch of the tree, said protective pad retaining thermal energy in the proximity of the trunk or branch of the tree and retarding the loss of thermal energy from the proximity of the trunk or branch of the tree;
• activating at least one generally self-contained exothermic heat source, said exothermic heat source including a packet having an interior cavity containing a generally dry chemical composition, said packet being permeable to oxygen, said chemical composition producing thermal energy through an oxidation reaction when said packet and said chemical composition are selectively exposed to oxygen;
• positioning said exothermic heat source in a predetermined position between said protective pad and said insulating jacket with said exothermic heat source generating sufficient thermal energy when activated to warm the tree to prevent frost damage to the tree, said fluid initially retarding the transmission of thermal energy from said exothermic heat source to the trunk or branch of the tree, and thereby absorbing and retaining said thermal energy and subsequently transmitting said thermal energy to the trunk or branch of the tree over an extended period of time;
• and
• securing said protective pad and said insulating jacket in position wrapped around the trunk or branch of the tree.