Tucking Your Plants In

The mercury continues to rise and fall, with the recorded high for the month being 88° and the low 25°. Despite the back and forth, the historical data suggests we have only experienced one “little winter” so far, with the next approaching tomorrow night. While many wait to plant until either tax day or May 1st, if you already put plants in the ground, fear not! There are measures you can take to ensure you don’t lose your investment.

Covering your plants with bedsheets, drop cloths, or tarps helps trap the heat radiating from the soil. Thoroughly watering your beds ensures they can retain the maximum amount of heat while insulating tender roots, and a fresh layer of mulch is the proverbial icing on the cake. You likely already have everything you need to survive this next dip in temps, but we do offer frost cloth and fleece jackets for plants in containers if desired. This is an issue for everyone, from home gardeners to professional farmers. I recommend checking out how vintners protect tender vines — it makes for a beautiful sight!

If you haven’t made your big trip out yet, we have a few suggestions on how to get the most out of your trip to Bates. If you are specifically looking for individual help, we ask that you visit us Monday through Friday. While our Landscape Specialists are available and happy to help every day of the week, the nature of our business allows them more time for personalized assistance on weekdays.  If there is an area you would like help with, please bring photos and an idea of the sunlight or direction the area faces. Utilizing our website to build your wishlist is also an excellent idea! If you do place your order online, please respect the 48 hour fulfillment window so we can make any needed changes. Lastly, we love our four legged friends, and we ask that all pets be leashed on the premises. Bring your pup by checkout for a treat!

That’s it for this week, friends. Tune in Saturday mornings at 8 am for Gardening Inside Out. Follow our Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun. Queue up the podcast for your next adventure. We can’t wait to see you!

Happy Gardening,

Sara Bates