Does the seasonal ‘back and forth’ of February leave you scratching your head?
Ah yes, late winter—the time of year when Mother Nature channels her inner prankster. One day, you’re basking in 65-degree sunshine, convinced it’s time to break out the trowels and tomato seedlings. Then next, you wake up to frost-covered daffodils, perhaps questioning their sense of timing. Welcome to the annual nightmare known as The Transitional Terror, where the only constant is confusion. So, what is the ‘what’ of this madness?
This is the season when plants and gardeners, suffer from mixed signals. Trees begin budding, only to be sucker-punched by an unexpected hard freeze. Perennials poke their sleepy heads above the soil, optimistic, yet temporarily stymied. And let’s not even talk about the poor, confused robins wondering if they booked their migration a bit early. Surely there must be more to the ‘why’ of this seasonal whiplash?
This erratic behavior is largely courtesy of the jet stream, that fickle force of nature that sends warm air one week and Arctic blasts the next. As winter clings to its vestige of control, spring is like an eager intern trying to take over before the boss has fully clocked out. The result? Days of glorious warmth followed by bitter reminders that winter is not quite over. Keep these things in mind:
• Hold Your Horses on Annuals – That freak 70-degree day is a trap. Resist the urge to plant tomatoes in February. Just trust me on this one.
• Mulch is Your Friend – A cozy layer of mulch insulates soil, protecting roots from temperature swings.
• Be Ready to Cover Up – Have frost blankets, old sheets, or even upside-down buckets handy for surprise cold snaps.
So, my friend, embrace the chaos, prepare for the unexpected, and remember—spring will win in the end… eventually.
Every Saturday morning, we’re live at 8 AM (or delayed broadcast, any time), we provide reassuring answers for your many gardening questions on: “Gardening Inside Out”. Listen to our Podcast anytime! Follow and contact us: Facebook. YouTube. Instagram.
David Bates
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