Expert: Long Island Gardener - 4/7/2007

Question
Hello,
I grew up on LI(!), Levittown, and now I live in Alabama (culture shock), and I have already purchased large petunias, geraniums and other annuals.  We are having cold weather this week.  I covered the roses and some other perennials last night and I dragged all the MANY pots into the garage.  It is going to freeze the next two nights and then go to 38 degrees the following night.  It's cold in the daytime too (45 today).  So...
1. Do I have to cover roses for freezing temps?
2.  Should I keep the annuals in the garage during the day when it's 42?
3.  Do I have to cover and hide in the garage everything when it's 38 at night?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Neighbor.  Roslyn Heights here.  Home Depot in Westbury, Brookville Roses on 25A, Hicks on Jericho Turnpike are dealing with this same problem.

I noticed the little old ladies at Brookville's Rose Nursery have covered their Rose plants, which are barely breaking dormancy with their little red buds, blanketing them in large plastic sheeting.

Home Depot as usual does not take care of its plants.  They don't know how.

Hicks does take care of its plants, and they do know how.

Home Depot and Hicks will have however the same results.  Because Petunias, Geraniums and many other annuals -- NOT Impatiens, NOT Begonias -- can take a stroke of frost.

How much Frost?  Well, they would rather have NONE.

If they are enjoying a lot of warm Alabama sun, and suddenly they get punched in the stomach with a 30 degrees night, they will definitely suffer.  Die?  Probably not.

But why put them through that?

Run down to Home Depot or Lowes and get some plastic sheeting.  The light kind that painters use in the paint dept to cover furniture.  It comes in different weights, get the lights stuff you can find.  Unless you know someone who works in a Saran Wrap factory who can deliver large sheets of that to your house.

Cover and secure.  Leave, let the sun go down, and in the morning, they will be fine.

Given the trend, you will be using this stuff next year too.  Because Global Warming means global cooling.  Longer winters, longer summers, shorter springs, extremes in temperature.  Geez, I can hardly wait.

You think you've got problems?

You wouldn't miss these heat bills we had this winter.

Now we're looking forward to the a/c.

At least, that's what my daughter says.

That's the story.  Great to hear from you.  Fascinating thought, that you could move from Levittown to Alabama.  There's a book in that story, I'm sure.  Thanks for writing.  Any questions, I'm here.