Helpful hints for spring planting
Always wait until May 15, the traditional frost-free date, before planting annuals and veggies.
Make sure to stay on top of pruning to allow for new growth after a freeze.
Be sure to consult a professional before starting a garden from scratch.
Think about how often you should water your garden, what type of soil you have, and how much light it will get.
With temperatures soaring to record highs in March and dropping to chilly lows in April, many local gardeners have been left in the cold.
“It has been a very strange spring, and that is for sure,” says gardener Tina Gilbert.
We contacted four local gardening experts from some of the area’s top nurseries to get advice on how to make the most of this year’s unpredictable weather. From what to plant to what to watch out for this summer, these experts have the scoop on what our crazy climate means for you.
Q How will the recent freezes affect the plants?
A "It has definitely been crazy," says Gilbert, manager of Bonnie's Nursery and Garden Center in Springfield.
“People have been jumping the gun (on planting), so we’ve seen people losing plants.”
Annuals, flowers that bloom for one season only, have been the hardest hit. Gardener Kathy Matousch of Siebenthaler’s Centerville said any annuals planted in March or April probably won’t survive. However, there could be hope for some.
“It depends on how hard they got hit” by frost, she says.
If your perennials, or plants that return year after year, burst into bloom this March, Dana Wilson of Wilson’s Garden Center in Hamilton says not to worry.
“Perennials will turn black or brown (after a freeze), but just prune them back and they will be fine,” she says.
Q What can we do to counteract the freezes? Or will Mother Nature sort everything out?
A Karen Chasteen of Berns Garden Center in Middletown stresses the importance of planting annuals only after the frost-free date, May 15. Covering plants is typically recommended, but it's not a guaranteed protection. "The cold soil is still not good for them," Chasteen says.
Matousch agrees, saying, “You really have to be careful. Sometimes it’s not so much the air temperature as the soil temperature. We want that soil to be really warm before we plant.”
It’s very important to abide by the traditional May 15 planting date, no matter how tempting the forecast.
Q If I want to get a jump on things, what would be the best things to plant now? What would be the worst?
A "This is prime time for planting trees," Gilbert says. With the warmer weather, this year is ideal for early planting of trees, shrubs and perennials. Chasteen adds that pansies are safe to plant now, too.
If veggies are your thing, the “cold crop” vegetables can go into the ground now. Potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, and cauliflower should all be fine.
When in doubt, Chasteen recommends consulting a gardener before planting anything.
As for the worst plants to put into the ground before Mother’s Day? “Hold off on annuals and vegetables,” says Wilson.
Experts agree that cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, beans and especially tomatoes won’t make it to harvest time if planted too soon. Instead of enjoying an early salad of homegrown veggies, you’ll most likely be out time and money.
A few annuals are an exception to the frost-free rule. Petunias, nemesia, verbena and certain other specialty annuals will do just fine if planted now.
Q With all this in mind, how does the rest of the growing season look?
A New foliage may be a little smaller when perennials come back from a freeze, Matousch says, but with careful pruning, everything should be in good shape.
Weeds, too, are “going to be in heaven,” Gilbert says. As quickly as perennials and trees are bursting into bloom, dandelions and other garden foes are popping up, too.
The 30-day forecast looks promising for those itching to plant, and the experts say this is a fantastic year to start that gardening project you’ve been planning.
Just remember: in the land of unpredictable weather, the frost-free date is king.
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