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Spring Weather Gives Gardeners the Chills

Released 19 April 2001
by B. Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist

We've had just a bit of every kind of weather imaginable in recent days--from record-breaking highs to bone-chilling lows, thunderstorms, snow and high winds. There's not much we can do about the weather. But many gardeners wonder if there is something they can do to help their plants, especially spring flower bulbs or fruit and landscape trees that are in bloom.

In general, the further along flowers are in their development, the more susceptible they are to freeze injury. Many flower buds are at risk of injury when temperatures dip down to 25 F or below. The amount of injury depends on just how cold it gets, how long it stays that cold and how open the flower buds are. Some species, and even some cultivars within a species, are more tolerant of low temperatures. Given so many variables, there's no way to know what the outcome will be, but chances are good that at least some of the blooms will survive.

High winds just add to our troubles. In addition to physically knocking blooms off the plants, high winds can cause severe desiccation to flowers and young leaf buds.

Covering small plantings with tents made of blankets and tarps may provide some limited amount of protection, but at these temperatures, a degree or two can make a huge difference. However, with high winds, covers should be secured so that they themselves do not cause physical injury to plants.

While this all sounds a bit gloomy, it's important to remember that this is not at all unusual for Indiana. None of our plants should suffer more than a temporary set back. Some foliage may look a bit bedraggled, and we may lose some of spring's beautiful flower show and possibly some of the fruit crop potential. But it is just too soon to know.