ASK THE HORT AGENT
Question Did the “Easter freeze” kill my plants?
Answer The entire eastern United States was hit by a severe freeze on Easter weekend. There were three factors that coincided to make this weather event severe. First, temperatures prior to Easter were unseasonably warm. This warm weather caused most plants to break dormancy and begin their spring growth. Pollen was being dropped and leaves were opening on many plants. Most gardeners estimated plant development to be approximately 2 to 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of “in like a lamb” seemed accurate.
As Good Friday arrived, it was ushered in by an Artic cold front. This drop in temperature produced the second factor by lasting for 5 nights. The duration of a cold snap has major bearing on the severity of cold damage. Plants can often bounce back from a quick dip in temperature, but 5 nights of frost is extremely hard on tender new growth.
The last factor was the low temperatures that were reached on Easter morning. Temps in the low to mid 20s were recorded all the way to Mississippi. This was the death blow to most of the early plant growth.
All three of these factors came together to produce a crime scene unlike most gardeners have ever witnessed. New growth was fried (actually frozen, but produces same result). The flowers of trees like pecan, oak and hickory were killed. This means there will be very few nuts for the squirrels this fall and winter. The flowers of trees and bushes like apple, plum, peach and blueberry were also smoked. Many plants like grape, black berry and gardenia will vary in their response – some will be fruit/flowerless and some will simply have less than normal. The plant growth schedule went from 2 weeks ahead to 2 weeks behind. Somebody in Pennsylvania ought to be eating groundhog stew by now.
The news is not all bad. Plants like crape myrtle, verbena, and spirea will sail through the summer like nothing happened. Very few plants have been killed by this freeze damage. Wait and you will see new growth pop out again. Trees like oaks may be slower and more cautious this go round. Go ahead and prune off dead leaves and limbs. Hang your hummingbird feeders as soon as possible because they have fewer flowers to feed on.
There are lessons to be learned. This event surely shows us the need for plant diversity in our landscape. It also underscores the problem with planting summer annuals and vegetable gardens too early. This cold snap certainly underscores the need for research in groundhog weather forecast technology. Lastly, it shows us the impending doom of global warming – not really.
For more information on pruning, visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG08700.pdf If you don’t have internet access, call me at 910-893-7533 or email me at gpierce@harnett.org
Though your plants may bear the scars of what appeared to be death, they will rise again. There is a message of life in this Easter freeze.
Gary L. Pierce
Horticulture Extension Agent
Harnett County