The arctic blast we experienced this past December was not only tough on us and our homes, but our gardens too. We are seeing signs of winter injury on many plants from the low temperatures and high winds during this extreme event.
Some broadleaf evergreens in our area seem to have been hit the hardest, including hybrid hollies, nandinas, abelia, mahonia, southern azaleas, laurels, bamboo, and aucuba. We also expect to see injury on plants that are marginally hardy in our area such as crapemyrtles, sweet box, and leyland cypress.
While these and many other plants may appear to be dead right now, DO NOT start cutting things down or removing them just yet. The severity of the damage and best course of action will range depending on the type of plant as well as its location, health, and age. We will not be able to fully evaluate the extent of each plants injury until at least early April at which time we will post on our social media about individual plants affected and the best course of action for that particular plant.
Wondering how you can try to lessen this type of damage to your plants in the future?
The bottom line is that we must all accept that Mother Nature is ultimately in control. This type of damage has happened before and it will happen again. Experimentation and death are always going to be a part of gardening, no matter what level of experience you have, so stay curious and re-frame this winter event as an opportunity to learn more about your garden.
Our extensively experienced professionals are always here to help, so if you have any additional questions regarding winter injury please send them to gardeninfo@plantkingdom.net. Stay tuned for more winter injury updates on our website and social media this spring.
According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration the estimated last day of freeze for Metro Louisville is April 1st – 15th; however, because we are in a “warm pocket” surrounded by “cooler counties” this puts us at higher risk for a drop in temperature later than estimated.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Some plants can be damaged or even killed by frost or freeze, so it is important to use this information as a guide for scheduling your spring plantings and gardening activities. Cold-sensitive annuals, warm-season vegetables, and tropical plants, including houseplants that are taken outside, will need to be protected from the potentially damaging frost or freezes we might see in the coming weeks. Plants with high frost/freeze sensitivity include basil, tomatoes, peppers, sweet potato vine, annual vinca, impatiens, and other plants fresh from the greenhouse that have not had a chance to harden off.
BUT WAIT, THAT’S NOT ALL
In addition to air temperature, the soil temperature is also an important factor in the germination, establishment, and production of many warm-season annual flowers and vegetable crops, especially tomatoes and peppers. This is why, even if we don’t have a frost or freeze in late April or early May, you still need to wait to plant. While the air temperature warms up quickly the soil warms up slowly. Planting some crops too early before the soil temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher can cause stunting and reduced production even if the air temperature is warm and the growing season is picture-perfect.
WHAT CAN YOU PLANT NOW?
March and April is a great time to plant things that are NOT sensitive to potential cold snaps or soil temperatures. This includes hardy trees, shrubs, and perennials, as well as early spring crops like pansies, lettuces, kale, and more. Fresh deliveries of plants and gardening supplies are arriving daily, so stop in soon to check out what’s new.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Send us an email or give us a call because our team is experienced and ready to help. You can also click here to read the full NOAA article about the time of year, on average, that areas across the nation can expect to see their temperatures dip to 32°F or below for the last time.
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Last year it was announced that a company was seeking to purchase and develop the property we have leased for over 20 years. This sale has now been finalized, but we are excited to announce that we will remain open and ready to serve you at our current location for our 25th anniversary this year. You, our customers, mean everything to us so please know that we will continue to provide you with quality plants, expert knowledge, and the most up-to-date information about any changes ahead for our family-owned business. We are open during the spring season, Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Fresh deliveries of plants, gardening supplies, and more are arriving every day, so stop soon in to check out whats new this week. You can also shop online for select items at plantkingdom.net/shop.
Houseplants & Tropicals fresh deliveries arriving weekly
Garden Seeds & Supplieshave arrived - shop in-store or online
Pots & Garden Supplies have arrived - check out our current selection in-store or online
Spring Crops including pansies, spring annuals, seed potatoes, onion sets, garlic, and vegetable transplants
have arrived - shop all in-store or select items online
Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials shipments will continue to arrive weekly through the spring season
Bonsai Treesfirst shipment - late March
Summer Crops including summer annuals, vegetable and herb transplants, and seasonal tropicals
first shipment – mid to late April
Water Plantsfirst shipment – early to mid-May
30% -75% off select plants, pots, and more! See store for details.
The Plant Kingdom is a proud member of the Louisville Independent Business Alliance and has been a family-owned and operated business since 1998. We encourage everyone to safely eat, drink, and shop locally to show their love for the businesses that make our community special. As a THANK YOU for your support click here to enter to win a $25 Plant Kingdom Gift Card.
