Baby It's Not Cold Outside

Between the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the warm temperatures we have been having, the last thing on anyone's mind is protecting plants from cold weather.  With temperatures in the high 70's and low 80's it may be easy to forget that the potential for a blast of cold weather is still possible.

Start looking around your yard and assess where your potential problems are.  Do you have plants in pots that will need to be moved indoors or into protected areas of the yard in the event of a freeze? Do you have an area set aside for that purpose?  If the area is indoors, is the space clear of clutter and ready to house your plant material?

Determine what plants if any will need to be covered in the event of a heavy frost or long duration of freezing temperatures.  Do you have enough material to adequately cover these plants?  Old bed sheets work great or you can buy frost cloth from some local garden centers.  Sometimes cheap bed sheets can be found at thrift shops or dollar stores. One thing you do not want to do is use plastic for covering your plants.  Plastic can do more harm than good.

Don't underestimate the value of Christmas lights for warmth.  In the past I have used Christmas lights to wrap around Staghorn ferns that were too large to bring inside during long lasting cold weather.

Keep in mind that when we have a combination of cold weather and wind, plants will dry out faster.  Make sure you keep your plants well irrigated during these times.

Don't get caught off guard.  Remember that the first day of winter hasn't even arrived yet. Prepare for the cold now so you aren't kicking yourself later.

Water Please

There is no denying that we are having a dry spell of weather right now. Because of this we cannot forget to water our potted plants. Keep in mind that your containerized plants are not able to take in moisture from the surrounding soil as the plants in the ground do. Containerized plants dry out much more quickly and if not kept hydrated can easily die. If you are going away for the weekend or taking a longer spring break trip, ask a friend or neighbor to water your potted plants.