Cold Front Help!! Do I cover my new plants tonight?

I was so certain (well wishing and hoping really) that the last of the bitterly cold weather was over for us here in Texas. I have just re-done flowers beds that were long over due for an update with flowering perennials and shrubs like azaleas and bridal wreath, only to see that tonight we will fall to 38 and that it will feel like 32. There will be some wind, which I've read is good as it keeps the cold from settling on the ground, but I've also read that temperatures don't need to actually reach the freezing level to harm newly planted beautiful, lovely and sweet plants...I'm so worried...do I go and buy some light blankets or sheets to cover them all or will just watering save them from any damage? Help! Noobie in need!!

Generally it's annuals that are risky with the cold temperatures, not shrubs and perennials. Did you mulch everything well?

Water, hope for wind, and mulch if you haven't done so already - 2" is worth the work.

Let us know how everything is tomorrow.

Those shrubs should be fine. Will this be a new record for your area?

It's headed this way, possible frost is supposed to hit here Tues. nite - WTH???!! I was shocked when I heard the forecast this morning, and luckily I did. Plans for today *did* include planting some Coleus plants, but that can/should wait a few days I guess. Those are definitely sensitive to frost, unlike hardy shrubs.

Thanks pirl for the feedback! I have mulched but I was worried since most of the plants are newly planted with no established root system that they would be more likely to object and get damaged from the cold. So ready for warmer weather!

purpleinopp I saw you may even have a slight chance for tornadoes over your way! Stay safe and I am right there with you on WTH!! Luckily I haven't planted our annuals either, was going to this week.

My ESP tells me you'll do fine, Kasiri.

Good luck and stay safe, purple!

I swear by the white horticultural fleece you buy in the garden store, I use it so often that I actually now buy it by the role on line from Horticulture suppliers. it costs very little, a couple of dollars per metre BUT saves a fortune in replacing plants. Oh by the way it can be washed and rep-used each year till it's dome and holes are too much.
I live right on the coast and get dreadful strong gale-force wind carrying salt spray that burns ever tough Rhododendron leaves, they do recover the next year BUT the other more tender plants get stripped of foliage, I very rarely get ground freeze here because were costal BUT on the occasions it's forecast I throw mulch down, for an odd nights frost/ freeze, But the ground should NOT freeze your way now, BUT the cold night air will do more damage IF it goes on for several nights.

I would throw the fleece over the plants as best as you can, hold it in place by a few stones / bricks and the light, water, air will still be able to get to the plants BUT if there's a freeze or night frost, the fleece will hold this back from the plants /soil.
I have to use this fleece when I plant my veg beds as it helps keep off the cabbage white butterflies that lay eggs all over the cabbage family, it keeps blackflies off the tender tips on the beans, slugs and snails off the salads, so it's gold dust to me in my climate and conditions.
It can be used to drape over the soft fruit canes to keep the birds off yet allows the sun to ripen the fruits.
Try keep some in your store for such conditions as you have right now as you don't need more than you to lay, secure and remove following day if need is must.
Good luck. WeeNel.

Ended up bottoming-out right at 40 here, daggone close to frost, but I didn't see any. I brought tender potted plants back inside, glad I did. Some tropical plants would be really upset about that temp and the gusty winds that kicked up as soon as the sun rose. It's about 52 now.

As far as the ground goes, if you had some warm, sunny days in advance of this one night of cold blast, the ground probably remained warmer than the air overnight, roots of hardy plants should be unaffected.

TY, Pirl! I don't think any of the Cannas, elephant ears, stuff just starting to wake up was damaged. This early, it probably wouldn't matter, but glad that won't be an issue.

WeeNel, there is definitely some magic in a covering of some type! In citrus groves, they run fans so the frost can't form, even if the temp goes to a low that would normally allow it. My Mom also has a theory that if plants do get *lightly* frosted, whether or not the frost melts before the sun shines on the leaves can make a difference. She's been watching frost zap stuff on the east side while often stuff on the west side can survive the same night, staying alive until a more severe frost. None of my 'experiments' have disproved this, though the opportunities to experiment are limited to a few nights per year, and then only those years where same plants are in a situation where some get early morning sun and some don't, and THEN only to mornings where one is outside checking things before sunrise in frigid temps. Has anyone else noticed anything in this area of frost observations?

What do you have to report, K? How did it go?

Sorry to get back so late but it went fine! We had quite a few nights of temps in 30's so I was a little nervous! We had some light weight plastic that was in the garage and we draped it lightly over the most sensitive plants and then removed it again in the morning before temps got to hot again...going from 70s-30s was rough on the little girls I'm sure, but the roses seemed to actually enjoy it, they popped out faster! It was a lot of work to get them recovered every night but very worth it... the Russian Sage is gorgeous its bloom so bright blue they look glowing at times! Thanks for all your advice...I am just starting to garden myself. We've had landscapers for years but they never quite got what I wanted for plants down. I kept asking for an English cottage look and kept getting the cookie-cutter Texas bushes....very boring and blah...no flowering anything! So wish me luck...I never knew there was so much information on plants, diseases, bugs, soils, etc ect ect. Wow you guys must have a lot of knowledge...always thought you plant it and your done....tons of work...thanks so much I may bug you lots more as a noobie!!

Go ahead and "bug" us. We're here for the challenge!

I love the Russian Sage, too!

So glad that it all worked out so well for you.

So glad all is well with the garden and plants after your worry about frost hitting the plants.

Never underestimate the lengths a gardener will go to when plants require help, Sorry Dear Husband but you are on the list of things to do LOL

Have a great gardening season.
Best Regards,
WeeNel.

This should make all of you feel better. I woke up to rain-turned-snow with 1" of snow on my car. It was 45 degrees, now 40 to go down to 33 degrees tonight. Won't have any decent weather until Thursday when the sun will decide to peek out. Cloudy until then. Wed. more rain, like wise tonight. It is DREARY out.

A typical Wyoming spring. I should bed used to it but never is. Can't safely plant anything outdoors until May 31.

Even though we're zone 7a I've had way too much grief with very cold spells to plant anything (unless it's hardy) before Mother's Day and prefer mid-May but even then it can be tricky.