Plan Before You Plant

With the coming of spring, many are looking to spruce up their yards with new plants, trees or flowers. This weekend’s cold snap could have the occasional gardener rethinking early planting and concerned about even more mature foliage. With the most recent bout of below freezing temperatures, flowering plants, which were already impacted by February’s frigid temperatures, could be feeling the brunt of a winter that just won’t let go.

Rob Blevins, of More Than Plants in Strawberry Plains, was already concerned about the effects that the previous harsh weather had on plants and this most recent chill has only added to the concern. Before this weekend’s dipping temperatures, Blevins expected to see a delay in flowering plants and trees. “We are just now seeing the impact of extreme temperatures in late winter on the area. Trees that have already begun to bloom may have a hard time making it through this most recent cold snap.” Blevins said on Saturday. He said that tulips are fairly hardy in the cold and those flowers and trees with closed buds will make it through better than those that have already bloomed.

Though he understands the desire to get out and work in the yard when the days turn sunny, Blevins suggests that it is time to “hardscape”, meaning time to prepare beds and put down mulch or decorative rock, and leave the planting for a couple of weeks. “Generally, the second week in April is time to start thinking about planting. Most things are safe by then and the temperatures are more moderate. Even a cold snap will not last as long or be as impacting, generally speaking.”

Any long term effects of the cold will not likely be seen for awhile and may present itself as a set back in flowering or even a less colorful year. The freezing temperatures, especially those last month, could hit the pocket book as well as the blooms, with the prices of bed and vegetable plants going up due to the cost of preservation.

One of the most costly decisions of the weekend gardener is planting out of zone, according to Blevins. Though East Tennessee enjoyed several years of mild winters, it is actually not suited for some of the plants that we commonly see used in landscaping, like Loropetalum which is zoned for warmer areas. “When investing in landscaping it is a good idea to keep in mind your planting zone because sometimes we do get those extreme temperatures in East Tennessee and then your plants and investment are in trouble.” He says that planting to early is also an issue and a good rule of thumb is “consider it time to plant when it is time to get out the weed eater and mower. If the grass is growing enough to need manicuring, then it is time to visit the nursery. Until then, spend the time outside well preparing for planting time and get your hardscaping done.”