Freeze Monday Night/Tuesday Morning

[Anonymous]

Capital Weather Gang is warning that the temperatures on Monday night/Tuesday morning will deep to freezing in much of the area. I'm in NW DC, and just planted around $500 worth of perennials and annuals that I don't want to lose. Most are in the ground, rather than in planters, so I can't bring them in. Are they likely to be ok or do I need to doing something to be sure? Flowers include petunias, hostas, snapdragons, cupea, daisies, columbine, bleeding hearts, and a few other varieties I can't remember off the top of my head. We've always been past freezing when I've planted, so not sure what to do to prepare, if anything.

[Anonymous]

cover them up with plastic covers like paint covers

[Anonymous]

Petunias and cuphea are very fragile and don't do super well below 50F, and die at the slightest frost. Cover those up as best you can and expect to lose some.

Snapdragons and hostas might get damaged. The rest will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Begonias are pretty frost sensitive. I’m gojng to put old sheets over mine and hope that’s enough. Wondering about the basil too.

[Anonymous]

A good reminder to not jump the gun on planting, no matter how tempting the early April temperatures might be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good reminder to not jump the gun on planting, no matter how tempting the early April temperatures might be.

Yup, wait until Mother's Day to plant stuff in this area.

[Anonymous]

I forgot my basil seedling outside last night - I usually bring them in every evening. Poor little guys are blasted.

[Anonymous]

you planted too early!

[Anonymous]

You will likely lose some plants.

[Anonymous]

For the perennials, why would the issue be planting too early? My hostas from last year are up. Nothing I could have delayed there.

[Anonymous]

Do I need to do anything for my hydrangea plant?

[Anonymous]

Also fill a couple of gallon jugs with warm water and put them under your plastic sheet covering your new plants. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do I need to do anything for my hydrangea plant?

No, it's a hardy perennial shrub.

[Anonymous]

Basil hates even cool weather, so bring that in if it's in not in ground

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the perennials, why would the issue be planting too early? My hostas from last year are up. Nothing I could have delayed there.

All the perennials will be fine, you are right. It’s just the tender annuals that will be killed. And normally folks wouldn’t have even considered putting them out this early, but last week’s heat wave made everyone jump the gun.