With a forecasted low of 36 ..

For my county, should I panic now and grab a sheet to cover over the new annuals I've potted, and the seeds that are sprouting in pots out on my patio? Can I bring them closer to the building to keep them warm, or should I bring them close, and put a sheet over everything?!?

Stupid weather! Who wants to remind the sun and warm temperatures that it's Springtime already!?!? :)

-Jennifer

I have to agree with you when asking where's springtime? I brought lots of my stuff in and covered a few things last night as it was in the low 30's here. Hopefully tomorrow it will all be over from what I can see.

Jennifer, unless they actually say 32, I usually don't worry too much about it. About a month ago, it went to 28 here and one variety of my hostas and my hydranges really got hit. I "think" you should be ok.

Got to 37 here this morning, supposed to be slightly warmer tomorrow morning. I didn't cover anything but the few tender things outside are in protected areas, anyway. That is the best idea, Angelsong, either cover them or put them close to a building if you suspect frost might happen. They should come through fine... And if light frost does happen, mist them as soon as possible in the morning before it melts, let the water help to warm them slowly...

Our spring never can make up its mind if it wants to be winter or summer. Rapid changes from 30's to 70's is common for me. Very hard to cope with, but it helps make gardening rewarding ;D

Stupid weathermen! It was 44 when I woke up at 5:30am. Glad I did the sheet-covering, and moved seedlings closer to the building, but it was extra effort I didn't need, since it wasn't close to cold enough.

Oh well... better safe than sorry.
-Jennifer

It was lowest 36 F here last night. Now it is 40 F. The weather got cooler, but hope it will get back to warm soon. I haven't sowed or moved anything outside yet.

I bought some frost cloth this year and would recommend having it handy for those unexpected dips in temperature. I like it because it can be left on your plants (very light weight, and allows water and light through)for an extended period of time. I used it a month ago when it got down to 29 degrees - - and I had no damage even on my annual salvia.

The cloth can be reused, and can be found at many garden centers (or ordered online). There are several different types - - one which is call Remay.

It allows me to get things in the ground sooner and not go into a tail spin when the weather doesn't cooperate. Now if I can just get rid of my blasted slugs..... Nat

I got a pretty bad frost yesterday morning and a light frost this morning. It toally wiped out the new growth on the golden rain tree, much of my japanese painted fern, nandina, some of my purple smoke tree, trumpet vine, wisteria and a few other things. I was really ticked off when I woke up and saw that...then even more so when i came home and it was sunny/upper 50's and the plants i just mentioned looked like [deleted]. Those items were looking so good too. I'm just totally disgusted.

Oh, so sorry. Mother Nature can be really good at "zinging" us ever now and then. Surely, warm weather will be here to stay soon. It is so disheartening to have a late killing frost.

I also had a moment of disgust. I thought I was winning the war with rust on my hollyhocks. Weekly, I have removed the leaves with rust and sprayed with a fungicide. Last night, I went to check my plants that looked great from a distance. They were COVERED in rust - - I had to fight the urge to yank them out of the ground. Then I discovered that one of my beds is full of Japanese Beetle grubs - - can't spray as it kills my earthworms. So, I guess I have to hope that the birds will eat my grubs. Some days you just can't win.....

I forgot to cover my wave petunias! I covered them Tuesday night, but last night my friend stopped by and we were visiting until nearly midnight, then I worked on my gallery until 6am. As my head hit the pillow, I thought "doh!!".

Just went out and checked...They're all fine. Whew!

Petunias are hardy to at least 25F :) One year I had them growing in a container until early January! 'Course they weren't blooming, mostly shivering, but still alive!

Thankfully, and thanks to all my many trees, our low was 37F this week :) Only damage is from the careless gardener tromping on a couple newly-emerging hostas :(

I need a cheap place to buy fungicide, I like benomyl but will use captain. I grow carnivorous plants from seeds.