Help! Expecting a 40-50 degree temperature drop tonight!

[intheflow]

We're supposed to be getting a huge snow storm tomorrow. It's about 60 and breezy out now, it's expected to drop to 9 (!) degrees tonight. Of course a lot of bulbs have already started coming up, and both my rose bushes and flowering shrubs have started leafing out.

I covered most of my perennials that also started greening up, but I'm very worried about the larger plants/stays of bulbs - particularly my iris field I planted last fall coming up for the first time now.

Should I try to cover my roses? How about my iris field?

[LiberalEsto]

1. Cover the roses

I lost a beautiful old Mr. Lincoln rose last spring because, after an unusually warm spring, we had one unexpected cold snap.

Later I read that the young rose leaves on Mr. Lincoln were especially susceptible to frost damage. Some roses are tougher, but I wouldn't take a chance.

Good luck getting through this.

[intheflow]

2. Thanks. Roses now covered.

I think they're well-established (20-30 years old) but it's only my second season with them and they had to be pruned so severely last year from neglect I didn't get many buds from them. So I'd really love for my hard work last year to pay off this year.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I have been surprised at how plants respond to late freezes.

Most plants will make it through. Any plant that matters to you, if I were you, should be covered. But I have seen years when all the trees were leafed out, and a deep frost hit and killed all the leaves. The trees looked like they were dead, but they did produce more leaves after the frost killed the first ones. So don't worry too much about most of the plants, and cover what really matters. I have a bunch of old sheets that I keep to use for this purpose. If you use plastic, get it off before the sun comes up (if the sun comes up).

[Rowdyboy]

4. I know how you feel...this year we totally lost all our wisteria bloom and maybe 1/2 the azaleas....

Late freezes are a real bitch. Sorry.....

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. Been watching news, 1 FOOT of snow expected in some areas in the USA.

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Drifting will make it more than that.

I would rather cover my plants unnecessarily, than to wake up and find them destroyed.

USA has more than one storm front coming

Take care.

CC