 Our Garden Center
Cold Weather vs. Spring Bulbs:
Sometimes, about now, the weather throws curve balls. Temperatures warm up then a cold snap follows.
Or things warm up and stay up. Other times the weather's normal--whatever that is !
People can throw their coats on and off. But what about gardens? do we cover sprouted bulbs in a cold snap?
Do we take garden mulch off? What is the right thing to do?
According to the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center: " Doing nothing is the right thing to do!"
"Tulips are tough, they can take whatever Mother Nature dishes our. They're accustomed to spending winters outdoors,
undergraound; cold winters are 'business as usual' for bulbs like tulips , crocuses and hyacinths."
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Cold snaps won't hurt emerging leaves or closed buds, usually people do this kind of damage themselves by bruising young
plants in the process of throwing on unnecessary mulches or other covers.
Eisleys Nursery
whatcom Seed Co. |
It is not unusual for warm spells in mid-or late winter to prompt tulips, daffodils and hyacinths to suddenly pop up, often
weeks and even months ahead of schedule. When this happens just leave the plants as they are--don't run out and cover them with mulch.
Why give yourself the extra work? When cold weather returns, the bulbs automatically stop growing.
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No one knows why-- it's one of those unexplained mysteries of nature;
bulbs have the good sense to know when to stop. On the other hand pre-sprouted bulbettesor already open flowers can suffer
from sudden freezing and may benefit from protective mulching. Opened petals will turn brown at the edges from weather-related
freezer burn, but this will not harm the plant itself nor effect its ability to do the photsynthesus needed to recharge itself for next year's bloom season.
If it looks like a cold snap will zap already open flowers, take charge and grab your floral sheers or a sharp knife and take charge of the situation.
And enjoy your fresh cut flowers indoors.
If any of you green thumbs out there would like to share some of your gardening secrets:
Don't be shy--just write to: editor@foothill.net and we'll put your tips in our next issue.
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