How to Protect Your Early Blooming Plants from a Late Freeze
March 8, 1998
Rich Brooks wrote and asked: "What can do to protect daffodils from freezing? Our winter has been mild here in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Again, late freezes can do a number on emerging flower and leaf buds, but that rarely causes permanent damage. And in many cases, even if the primary buds are destroyed, secondary buds will take their place.
For example, a late freeze may eliminate flowers for one season. Shade from new buildings and maturing trees also limits bloom.
Warm temperatures can lead to premature growth that is susceptible to late freezes. Replace the plastic in early spring with weed barrier fabric, which allows the heat to dissipate.
Before assuming that you need to take drastic action to renew lilacs, consider factors unique to the year. A late freeze may knock out the blooms for a year, but plants may flower profusely with the next year's favorable spring weather.
In cold areas, varieties that bloom later may be the better choice (less risk of a late freeze arriving when the plant is blooming); gardeners in warmer areas may find an earlier-flowering variety will perform better, ...
If you have a plant that does not produce berries there may be several reasons: it may be a male plant; if it is female, there may not be any males nearby; we could have had a late freeze which damaged the flowers; hot, ...
As soon as new foliage emerges in spring, fertilize daffodils with a commercial bulb fertilizer according to package directions or apply a top-dressing of compost. There is no need to protect daffodil foliage from late freezes, ...
Hardening off times depend on the type of plants you are growing and the temperature and temperature fluctuations. So be flexible when hardening off your seedlings and be prepared to whisk them indoors if there's a late freeze and snow.
 See also: Freeze, Plant, Flower, Spring, Gardener
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