Even covering wouldn't help much when temperatures are getting that low.

I would still try to cover as much of it as possible, with a tarp or sheets. I'd wrap the trunk, at a minimum. I would try at least, because maybe it would make a difference.

Thanks for the tips! When I get home I will try that!

duckwatcher,
how did the lemon handle the cold? any updates?
Tom

I protect my citrus like this and they are handling it like a man.

{{gwi:561279}}

Only the new buds are being affected but the old leaves are still green. It is now Tuesday morning and the last record low was over last night. It will be over 30*F from now on. It was 22 last night.
As long as your trees are covered on the canopy just like most of my citrus I believe they can take the cold.
I did not even protect my Satsuma and some calamondin.

Any protection will help. If you can cover the top of your tree with anything like a tarp or bedsheets it will protect it. I have a calamondin which is over 12 feet high but I was able to put a clear plastic on top and this survive the low 22 * F tempt 4 nights in a row now with open sides. I have a mature Eurekka that I did not even cover it and it survived this cold.None of the leaves of my cal got frozen or wilt.

Well, I have a tough Meyer lemon that I'm sure was neglected for many years but this has been a hard winter on it, lost the flowers and young growth, leaves look curly, but fruit is still good. Watering the Meyer has helped a lot. I threw bedsheets over it. I planted 2 new young ones ( a grapefruit and a mandarin) that were the frost hardiest I could find, boy do they look yellow and cold. I don't know how much longer this can last.

newly transplanted citrus will not make the cold we are having without protection. They should have been covered wiith clear plastic and put Christmas lights inside.
That's what I did with my citrus for the first 3 years they were on the ground and survived the cold.
After several years, they should be able to wiithstand the cold with little protection.