What I learned from this week's weather

Ignore the calendar. 

I have decided that it is no longer possible to judge what the garden or weather should be doing based on past experience. From here on out I need to simply pay attention to current weather reports and hope for the best. April is always a changeable month here in southern Wisconsin. But late snows and frosts may be our new normal, given the big snow storm we had last year on April 18th.

If frost is predicted, I always cover a few plants. But with Saturday's heavy wet snow and possible frost, I covered many more things knowing the weight of the snow could break stems and flatten a lot of tender plants. It was a one-two weather punch, but everything seems to have come through OK. 

The following photos show what I mean about April being a changeable month. 

April 26, 2019

April 26, 2018: The pink Peony and Hellebore from above looked quite different last year on the same date (two photos below).

Stay calm and let the plants carry on. 

I covered a ridiculous amount of plants last Saturday working a couple of hours outdoors while it was snowing. I used 19 containers including a cardboard box to put over plants. I threw two bedsheets and four huge contractor bags over a series of 25 bamboo stakes, mostly covering my tree peony and species peonies. A few kitchen garbage-size bags went over wire cages that were in place to protect plants from the rabbits. And I piled shredded leaves on a few emerging plants.

I've decided it was worth it to cover the Peonies given the number of big heavy buds and the height of the plants. The only Peony I did not touch was still less than a foot high and has already recovered from being flattened by the snow. I covered emerging plants that were new last autumn and not totally acclimated to their new climate having come from nurseries in the Pacific Northwest. But all my native Trilliums, the Epimediums, the Hepaticas, Hellebores and Martagon lilies did not need any special care. I covered the Trilliums because I did not want them flattened by the snow, but the ones that were not covered are just about back to where they were. 

In retrospect, I'm sure that part of the reason I crazily covered so many plants is that our garden is part of a big tour this year. I did not want to start the season with the potential loss or damage to major plants. Now I have to clean up all these containers and get the mud off the bamboo stakes — once the rain stops. Somehow I always forget about all the cleanup from covering plants!

Comments

[Peter/Outlaw]

Glad that all that work paid off!

[Kris P]

Mother Nature is certainly trying to keep us on our toes - or maybe it's intended to be a kick in the pants? In any case, I think you're right about basing your activity on your current read of the weather rather than past experience. I'm glad your garden came through the last snowstorms in good shape.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

We do what we think we should do. Mother Nature can't help herself. She is battling all the vagaries of human assaults as well as what ever would normally happen. You are and will continue to appreciate all this extra work. Well done.

[Loree / danger garden]

Ah yes, I always forget the clean up too. Usually things are draped all over inside the garage drying. Every single cold snap we have ends with warming and rain. Always a mess.

[Frank]

All the work was worth it. We had a late freeze last Monday (no snow fortunately) and the damage is sad to see. I know you have seen Japanese maples with the new foliage all burnt but my biggest disappointments are the damaged hosta foliage and melted wisteria flowers.
The difference from year to year on your peonies and hellebore is astounding!

[Erin]

You are so right: We've entered the territory of the weather being a crapshoot. The only thing that saved us over here in that last cold/snow blast is the fact that it never got warm here so there is very little that was up or leafed out.