News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A hard freeze is expected tonight and that could cause problems in Upper Cumberland gardens.
Overton County UT-Ag Extension Agent Jason Garrett said temperatures have gotten as low as 13 degrees in mid-April. Garrett said one thing many people might not consider is damage that can be done tonight to plants purchased in big box store greenhouses.
“You take them out around this time of year and set them out, and they have not been used to an outdoor environment yet,” Garrett said. “They have to get used to it. So I have seen those plants get wind burnt and die. Cover them up until we get in some regular warm weather.”
Garrett said the best way to cover plants is with a bed sheet and to never use plastic to cover plants. Garrett said the plants most susceptible to damage tonight will be your fruit, budding fruit trees and annual flowers.
“Apples, pears, peaches if they’re in that little bitty bud stage that you can’t really see in a tree now,” Garrett said. “But they’re kind of starting to open up they can get about a 10 percent bud kill right now if it’s 25 degrees for 30 minutes or longer.”
Garrett said one thing people can start doing safely is planting shrubs but should be cautious if they were in a greenhouse. Garrett said this years blooming is pretty much on schedule, or slightly early.
