Blustery days ahead... let's stay warm by this fire!

25 this mornin' here......the dogs weren't too eager to remain outside when I let them out.....took care of business and scampered back in.
I'm movin' most everything that I knew was hardy down to freezin' or so.....into the greenhouse....anticipating the xtra hard freeze (by our standards)..that's comin'....I'm glad we don't have weather like they do in Wisconsin, Kim....I'd have to move....couldn't bear it....not bein' able to grow so many of the plants that we can down here.
We'll just bundle up and wait it out!

DH and I have been on a house cleaning binge this morning. Washed and hung out a set of curtains, wiped windows, cleaned a few floors, dusted spider webs and so forth. All while select windows are open for ventilation.

With the kids out of the house following the holidays, including DD's two cats, we needed to do this. We get this way when we have to hunker down with a closed house as we anticipate closing up tight for cold days.

DS is bringing hay for the outside dogs to bed in (they'll be in during the coldest weather) and some more mulch. A small 2-3 y/o citrus of some sort I planted near the house is doing well as it's heavily mulched. I'll top it entirely with leaves just prior to Thursday's winter hit.

Duty calls.

Kim,

You might consider putting a large crockpot full of water in the greenhouse and just have your friend who is checking on it add water if it gets low. You would be amazed at how much heat that adds.

Also, depending on the value of your plants, it might be worth adding a layer of 6mil plastic to double insulate it. You can get 20 x 100 ft at Lowe's for around $100. Also, I put my most fragile plants that are in the greenhouse inside a frame and cover that frame with another layer of plastic. Last year I only had to use heat in the greenhouse a couple of nights. This year so far, it has been most nights using heat instead of the opposite.

Good luck,
Charlene

Hey Ya'll,
I'm near Hobby Airport in Houston, and have 16 cabbages growing in homemade eBuckets. They're in a corner of the yard, sitting on a concrete pad. They've been draped since last Friday with sheets, but the temps haven't fallen below 40 these last nights.

But, we're getting ready for the BIG chill of '10. Is there something more I should do to protect them these next few nights? Uncover them and hose em down and recover? I was thinking of throwing a plastic tarpaulin over the sheets, too. Also, consider this. One end of the sheet tunnel is held up between two 40-gallon trashcans that are 50% taller than the 5-gallon buckets. I've considered rigging up my small electric space heater to sit between these cans, throwing the heat forward toward the buckets underneath the sheet tunnel.

It's just a very small ceramic heater that will shut off if not sitting level, or if tipped over. The outside does not heat up, except a little bit directly in the front wire screen. But, it'd be well away from any sheet fabric and plastic, flanked between the tall cans. Please comment, and it's ok if you say I'm losing my mind and will burn down the yard...I've already gone there..

Thanks!

Linda

P.S. I've got many gallon milk jugs I can fill with very hot water and shove underneath the tunnel, too! LMK.

Linda, stick your crockpot under there full of water and set it on high! No fire, just heat, you'll wake up to your own bed and not in a rescue shelter!

You could even put a pot of beans instead of water.

Charlene

Now Charlene, girl, I have been trying to cook a pot of red beans and rice since the weekend! Bought the Chappel Hill jalapeno sausage Sunday!

Alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll rightie, then! Beans it is!

THANKS!!!

Linda

I hope none of the animals in my Wild Kingdom will be stupid enough to mess with that hot crockpot....you know those wonderful smells will wake US up from our sleep!

Charlene is right! So much so that I've put one of those large Cattle water troughs in my green house- It keeps it noticeably warmer and more humid. It has a fountain pump in it.

On the bug front, this cold does nothing to them. Remember the worst mosquito population resides in Alaskas tundra, where there is perma frost, and the mosquitos are hideous the one month it is warm enough.

I've become one spoiled Texan for warmer winters!

Gymgirl, cabbages are very hardy, so a little protection is all they might need.

Frostweed, I LOVE you!

Sharon Flint is a small town just south of Tyler ..so it is a good 2 hour drive from Denton ......go around Dallas on highway and get on 20 towards Shreveport...LOL
If you get off on 69 at Lindale and come into Tyler you go past Chamblee's Rose Nursery LOL
My address is Flint but I actually live between Tyler and Chandler

Thank you Gymgirl, you are so sweet.!

20 X 100, 6mil greenhouse plastic was $45 a role the last time we bought it at our local feed store. They have 10 mli for about $95.

Hello everyone! We hadn't seen some of you around lately and are glad to have you join us at the fire. Tonite we NEED it! This morning the ice was out in the pond 6 to 8 feet. I suspect it will be covered with a fine layer of ice by the weekend. Allwild, this morning we were 23 ( hold the Alt key and type 0176 at the same time )°. I have learned lots of good stuff on DG. That is just one of many things.

Rjudd ~ hope your tropical paradise is on the mend after that last freeze. I loved some of the snow photos that you posted on the Tropical forum. I also love those frostweed photos, LindaTX. Thanks for sharing. Hard for me to admit but beauty even in wicked weather.

Charlene ~ where have you been? Those are some good tips you shared for the greenhouse. Gymgirl ~ better cook those beans inside. You will be visited by more varmints than you knew existed in your neighborhood! LOL Mibus ~ glad to see you survived the Dallas tour! AntiquedRose ~ you want to come to my house when you get done? I can think of many things I'd rather do, have to do, etc. Trying to turn a new leaf this 2010. Yeah right!

I love this site... questions either simple or tough ~ someone will come along and have the answer. Frostweed, your knowledge and assistance is invaluable!

Off to add another log to the fire....

Just received this and thought there might be some helpful information and gentle reminders here.

Special e-gardens
From Neil Sperry's GARDENS Magazine
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
4 PM


Special Cold Weather Alert!

There's no point in delaying this any longer. By now, you're surely aware that the coldest mass of arctic air to pour into Texas in several years is expected to arrive and cross through the state tomorrow and Thursday. Check your local forecast over the next 24 hours to get precise weather information for your area.

Gardeners need to take warning! Several extraordinary precautions need to be taken for this cold spell. Let's look at each of them individually. Before we do, however, let's define a few terms.

"Hardened" refers to a gradual preconditioning of plants and animals to increasingly worse (in this case, colder) weather. Most of Texas has had several fairly strong cold spells in the past several weeks, so plants should be as well-prepared as they can be for this round. That's a good thing.

"Hardy" refers to the minimum temperature at which a properly hardened plant can be expected to survive. The USDA breaks the country into Hardiness Zones, and Texas falls into Zones 6-10. Click here to see the full USDA map. You need to know your area's Zone ranking. Plants that are normally grown in a warmer Zone (larger number) will need heroic protection in this cold.

Moisture levels of the soil prior to, and during, hard freezes do a lot toward determining the extent of damage that may be done. Dry plants usually suffer far more damage. If your plants are dry, you should water them before the cold hits.

Covers, especially frost cloth ("floating row cover") can be used to hold solar warmth in the soil and around your plants. These coverings also help stop the harsh winter winds. Winds often do as much damage as the cold they accompany. Secure the frost cloth using bricks, river rock or other heavy anchors. If you don't have frost cloth, use old sheets, blankets or burlap. Plastic is a poor covering material. It traps the sun's heat the morning after a hard freeze, and plants thaw out far too rapidly. Damage below plastic covers is usually far worse than if the plants had been left uncovered.

Tip for the future: Have a large roll of frost cloth on hand, even precut to fit over your plants, so that you can quickly put it into position when conditions dictate. Label the bags to make your work still easier.

Tip for the rest of this winter: If you have woody plants that appear to have been damaged by the cold, react slowly. Sometimes, only leaf tissues are damaged, and the plants come back very well as spring returns. Other times, stem tissues will be damaged, perhaps even to the ground. Pruning may be needed, but you should wait until March to assess the magnitude of any damage. Your only reliable clue before then will be if stem and twig tissues blacken, shrivel and turn brittle. In those cases, you can trim away that winter-killed wood. Otherwise, wait until early spring to determine your next steps.

Special Protection Tips
Here are your plant-by-plant guidelines.

Winter annual color. Pansies are the most winter-hardy annual plants, usually into single digits. Pinks and snapdragrons are next most durable, followed by ornamental cabbage and kale. If temperatures in your area are expected to fall into the teens, all will do better if protected with frost cloth. South Texas gardeners should protect petunias, stocks, poppies, alyssum and cyclamen if temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s.

Container plants. In general, you give up about two Hardiness Zones when you grow plants in containers. In other words, it's like growing those same plants in an environment that is 20 degrees colder. Most landscaping shrubs become vulnerable when they're still in pots when it turns really cold, which is why nurserymen overwinter them in gently heated (38 degrees F) greenhouses. If you have winter color container plants, or if you have shrubs and other woody plants in pots, either move them into a very protected location, or wrap their soil balls with insulation. Be sure they're properly watered, of course.

Tender perennial species (including, depending on where you are in Texas, bananas, Mexican bush salvia, Mexican heather, elephant ears and many others). Every part of Texas has one or more types of perennials that are marginal in their winter hardiness for that region. Mulch over their beds to improve their chances of making it through the cold. Shredded tree leaves, compost, pine straw or pine bark mulch can all work, as will frost cloth.

Brand-new groundcover plantings. If you have just planted Asian jasmine, star jasmine, ardisia or other types of groundcover that can sustain freeze injury in at least certain parts of the state, improve the plants' odds of survival with a little extra care. If they're dry, water them ahead of the freeze. Cover them with shredded tree leaves, compost or frost cloth until the severe cold has passed. Once established, these plants may be reliable in your area, but young plants won't have the same extensive root systems.

At-risk woody shrubs. Again, this list will depend on where you live, but for much of Texas, it would include oleanders, loquats, pittosporums, certain palms, waxleaf ligustrums, gardenias and fatsias. If you are able to cover these plants with frost cloth, you will greatly improve their odds of surviving without severe leaf burn or even total loss of the plants. Secure the cover to the ground, so that warmth from the soil can be released and trapped beneath the cloth.

Living Christmas trees. Anytime you take a plant from a 70-degree room and plunge it into sub-freezing weather, you greatly increase the chance that it will freeze, even if it's normally completely winter-hardy to your area. The plant is no longer hardened. If it's already in the ground, cover it to protect it. If it's still in a pot, set it in the garage for a day or two.

Standard plant species for your area. If you have chosen plants that are listed as hardy to your Zone, or to one that is colder (smaller Zone number), you should be fine. Again, water prior to the cold if the plants are dry.

Greenhouses. Your goal during extreme cold is just to keep things at or above 40 degrees F. If you're using electric heat, or if you have a gas heater with a blower fan, have a back-up heat source in case power goes out. If you're moving plants into the greenhouse, remember that most tropical plants will only tolerate 30-60 seconds of exposure to sub-freezing weather before they may be lost entirely.

Sprinkler system. Turn it to the "Off" or "Manual" positions so that it cannot run during sub-freezing weather. Modern "smart" controllers have these winter weather features built in. Many cities have initiated fines for sprinkler systems that cause traffic hazards, and the cost of the fine often approaches the cost of a new controller. These improved controllers make good sense at other times, too.

Valves and faucets. The safest thing to do is to disconnect all hoses from faucets. When hoses are left attached to older types of faucets during freezing weather, the water freezes within the faucets and often ruptures the pipes inside the walls of the house. It's not a pleasant, nor an inexpensive repair. Be sure in-ground valve boxes are closed. Hopefully, your pressurized pipes will be deep enough to miss the freezing temperatures.

Garden hoses and hose-end sprinklers. Water expands as it freezes, and in so doing, it can rupture plastic and soft metal sprinkler parts. Hoses become brittle and must not be moved until all of the ice has melted again.

Garden supplies and pest control products. Dry products will not be at risk, so long as you keep them dry. Liquids, however, should not be allowed to freeze. Do not leave them in unheated storage facilities.

Garden ponds, including fish. (Information from Kevin Malone at Dickson Brothers in Mesquite, the water garden, pool and pond supply experts.)

Small water features such as ceramic pots and fountains should be drained and dried.
In-ground ponds without wildlife: pull equipment, drain and store dry until warmer weather.
In-ground ponds with wildlife/fish: be sure the filter is working, and leave pond equipment running. You are relying on water movement to prevent freezing. Do not feed koi when water temperatures are below 55 degrees F.
Swimming pools: freeze-guard equipment should keep things running below freezing. If you do not have that type of protection, turn the equipment on and leave it running during the cold spell.
A Few Added Items
Finally, other things we just need to do because we're humans, and because we share this planet:

Put water out for birds and wild animals. Fill your bird feeders using a type of seed that they really like. Black, oil-type sunflower seeds are most universally loved.
Bring your pets indoors. It's going to be too cold for dogs and cats to be outside in much of the state. If you're heating the garage gently for them, be sure to protect against the danger of fire. Keep all things away from space heaters, and check wiring on electrical heaters. Be sure there is adequate ventilation if you're using a gas space heater that does not have a carbon monoxide shut-off monitor.
If you have outside walls to your house that have water lines, open the cabinet doors inside those walls. That usually prevents the pipes from freezing.

Neil Sperry

Very helpful--thanks Podster

30 but still. Thank you Podster. I don't see anything but maybe it will show up when I send.

Thank you for all the info. It seems to cover all the bases.

It didn't work. Trying again

This message was edited Jan 6, 2010 9:33 AM

° I did it! hahahaha
Had to use the Num Lk key and numbers.

Sometimes I'm slow..... but determined! lol

Recently, I had trouble getting that degree symbol to work for a while. Don't know why....but it's working again. The forecast for the 3 Big Freeze Nights (yes, I've named them) out here...20°, 18°, 21°. Groan! Bang head on wall! Okay, I'm over it for now.

Unfortunately, I raced out this morning and pulled a doubled over 4 mil plastic tarp over the sheets. Depending on the amount of sun we get, I can still pull it off easily enough.

Thanks, Pod!

P.S. Yeah, I think I'll cook the greens inside, and only do hot water in the crockpot. , if necessary.

Our Zone 9A predicted morning temps: TH-26°, FRI-22°,SAT-19°, SUN-22°, and MON-32°.

Cool degree symbol tip! (I had to activate the numlock key for it to work on the keypad...)

Send more cool symbol tips!

This message was edited Jan 6, 2010 12:38 PM

I'm more concerned that the highs aren't expected to get above 30º for a couple of days.

Yeah, that too...I might be ok with leaving that plastic tarp on after all!

Harvested the last of the kale and it really does have a much better flavor after the cold snap. It was the best.

I second that Gymgirl! send more cool symbol tips. I only know the smiley-face ^_^

Like This?→♪♫♪♪♫♫♪^^_^^_^^ (doing the happy dance to music!)

Linda

Hey Podster,
well for the most part the snow that froze pretty much fried the whole garden, and most of which would have been cosmetic, but this round of freezing will likely destroy a lot of the plants. The garden looks pretty sad. I am wrapping the tree fern up with seat cushions and may put my deck heater near it to keep it warm. It's looking pretty sad too, but still kicking.
The only compensation for this would be to have an early spring!

RJudd,
I love you, dearly, but I truly need a looooooooooooooooooog winter this year! ^^_^^

I can't imagine wanting a long winter...tomorrow's okay with me for the beginning of spring! I was working, breaking my back, trying to prevent damage to plumbing, plants, etc. And not even anywhere near done. I hate winter! It's terrible!

That depends on where you have winter...

Gymgirl ~ YOU can have my share of winter. LOL BTW, I am not sure that plastic is a good cover... from the Sperry Gardens newsletter above

I saw two fires going! Good idea...we'll probably need two over the next few days...or three, even!

I have two fish fryer stoves and one huge propane heater going in the gh. One crockpot under an inner lining of plastic, and tomorrow night, we are going to put wood in the bbq pit. I am worried that it may still not be enough. My gh is 20 x 60.

Tonight is supposed to be 27, but tomorrow night it hits 15. The next few nights and days it just keeps on going and going, but not likely to be like the bunny which is cute and this isn't cute!!

Prayers are being said here.

I looked online everywhere for the 6 mil plastic that Ken says he got for half the price I paid. I can't find it anywhere for less than Lowe's. Anyone know where to get it for less than $95.00?

Charlene

Charlene ~ I bought 6 mil UV rated a couple of years ago. It was 10'x100' and I paid just over $100. Higher because of the UV rating but I would have to redo with the Lowes plastic every other year. If you are using it to double wrap, you won't need the UV rated. I ordered it online but can't remember where. Not sure if it was BT Growers Supply or another one I have bought from. I just went and looked at the shipping label on the box but it has faded. I will look for my invoice tomorrow.

Morning all... time to put a few more logs on the porch and on the fire. The weather man just said it is 40° and we have seen our high till SUNDAY. Hoping for moderation in the weather. Everyone, start blowing hard to the north and maybe we can hold this off. LindaTX, Stephanie, everyone to the north, how bad is it there?

26 degrees here in Arlington and misting, I hope it doesn't become actual rain, it will be ice then.
Put all my small plants in the garage yesterday, boy, I must have lifted a ton, I guess i got one of those biggest looser workouts.
Josephine.

My Weather Bug (computer program) says it's 20º with a wind chill of 7º. Everything's been covered or brought in. Otherwise, it's left to fend for itself. I'll probably lose a few things, but that's ok. Sure was hard getting out from under my electric blanket to feed the kitties this morning! :o)

Hewitt Farm supply
10464 SH 155 south Big Sandy, Texas
(903) 636-9001

Well, I woke up to a blistering 54°, and found I had pulled off my nightshirt sometime in the night cause I was sweating. We had the heat WAY up and it turned into a sauna!

But, don't worry, ya'll, we'll be dropping steadily throughout the day. Should be in the 30s by the time I leave work, and 20° in the morning. Brought the extra clothes with me to layer on before heading to the North side for our Prayer Revival tonight.

Now, don't ROTFLOL. Yesterday morning, I poured a cup of rice into each of two tube socks, tied 'em off, made a harness from some old pantyhose legs and tied the socks to each end. Then, I nuked the socks for 5 minutes in the microwave and hung them around my neck. Put on my overcoat, got into my UNHEATED car and drove to work. You wanna be warm? Try it....

I heated em' up again at the church before I drove home last night, too!

I'll pray for ya'lls plants tonight.

Linda

Girl, Girl, what would you do if you were up north?

Go outside and play in the snow! I'm not a winter wuss!

It wasn't supposed to freeze last night...but they are wrong again. 29.5° sometime in the night. Wind is SO BAD! The Big Freeze nights, now supposed to be 19°, 15° and 21°. I wonder how MUCH lower they will really go. Mentally blowing to the north (push it back, push it back, harder, harder!), mentally pushing temps up....warmer, not colder! Why did I want to live way up here on a high hill? Why? Why? DH's sister lives in Belize...bet it's never cold there! Whine! I want their temps!

LindaTX8,
Do I perceive some cheerleading in your blood and past history? I did marching band.