Re: unseasonable cold front

Donna,
It depends on whether a plant is in active growth with a lot of soft tissue and how many of their reserves they have used. Plants that are perfectly fine into the teens earlier in the winter can pop a few buds that are frozen back, but repeat after repeat takes a terrible toll.
Most of my plants not only had a full set of leaves after 6 weeks of unprecedented warmth, but had also spent energy on shoot growth. Those leaves and shoots help the plants go through our hot summer nights, when few reserves are sent back into the plants. Losing flowers from Magnolias, Cherries and such isn't a problem.
Hail is a problem, but not uncommon here, either. Freezing every Hosta leaf to the ground is worse. I expect that will happen tonight. Last night it was only 27 on the (protected) porch. 

d
----- Original Message ----- From: "Donna" <gossiper@sbcglobal.net> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 4:25 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] unseasonable cold front



Well I am really at a loss here of understanding.

We always get hit with a hard frost late in the spring- which is why I
don't set out annuals or anything less than a zone 5 rating before mid
May in something I can't bring in for a night or three. My plants get
hit yearly, but rebound once the weather gets better. What I do lose is
fruit if the flowers get hit too hard, or some spring blossoms, but the
trees and plants survive. Hail seems to be my worse nightmare- the
leaves of the hostas look ratty all summer after being sliced by the
hail.


So ....other than tender plants- why do you think everything won't
rebound? My japanesse maple goes thru this yearly and normally looks
fine by June.....


I am really confused!

Donna


----- Original Message ----
From: Daryl <pulis@mindspring.com>
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Sent: Saturday, April 7, 2007 1:49:12 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] unseasonable cold front
Last night was warmer than it's supposed to be tonight, but here's the toll 
so far this afternoon:
Figs and Perennial Salvias black. Phlox, Sedum, Baptisia not happy, but not 
gone- Baptisia looks like it got hit harder than Phlox and Sedum.

Mulberry and Japanese Maples, Chimonanthus and Crapemyrtle cooked and
wilted, no recovery. 'Shasta' Viburnum - flowers not bad, leaves wilted.
Hydrangeas not as bad as Mulberry, but wilted and have that deep dark green that doesn't bode well. 'Amethyst Falls' Wisteria wilted but not dark green. 

Apple leaf damage dependent on exposure. Amelanchier surprisingly cooked.
Lindera ok.

Magnolia macrophylla and Sophora wilted and black.

Itea and Fothergilla have an odd color, but not wilted. Ditto some Hostas.
Others like 'Guacamole' are wilted.

Physocarpus looks fine - so far.

I think the fallout will be worse than anticipated. How goes it in your
gardens?

d (headed for a nap. Was sleeping last night with one eye open to keep an
eye on the glow from the chick brooder lamp. Swore I'd never get chicks
again before April because of the danger of a late (March) cold snap. This
one's a doozy!)
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kitty" <kmrsy@comcast.net> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 8:32 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] unseasonable cold front



Tonight is supposed to be our coldest of the past 3 cold nights, 21
degrees, then starting back up. A few new potted plants that were too far 
along suffered Wed night so I brought them into the garage. My Leonard
Messel magnolia is bred for ability to endure late frosts and the blooms
are still on it but droopy.  The dafs and tulips are acting like garden
peonies- heads in the soil. Tree and herbaceous peonies look good.
All of this is pretty rough on the plants but most will pull through w/out much trouble. If we'd gotten as low as Ceres did though, there would have 
been some losses.

Kitty


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