Just when we all thought it was safe to put the parkas away and start digging in the dirt, Colorado decides to remind us who is boss. A late May cold snap can feel like a personal insult to your gardening progress, but don’t panic just yet. Most of your plants can handle a dip in temperature if you give them a little help.
At Fossil Creek Nursery, we’ve seen plenty of these surprise cold snaps, and we’ve got a few tricks to help your plants make it through to the warmer days ahead.
Shake It Off!
Not just a Taylor Swift song! It’s also a simple, effective way to help your trees stay healthy through the winter. While a fresh snowfall is beautiful, the extra weight can occasionally lean on young or flexible branches a bit too heavily. To lend them a hand, use a broom or pool noodle to gently brush the snow away, which relieves the pressure without stressing the wood. Do not grab the branches or pull down on them, as that can damage them. Taking a moment to clear those limbs helps your trees keep their natural shape and ensures they’re ready to grow strong once the spring thaw arrives.
Protecting Your Irrigation System
The ground itself is already quite warm by May, which is great news for your irrigation system. You shouldn't need to worry about your underground irrigation lines or sprinkler heads, as this upcoming cold snap will not last long enough to freeze the ground.
However, your backflow preventer, the component that sits above ground, may still be vulnerable. If the forecast is looking particularly nasty, our sister company, Alpine Gardens has a great video walkthrough on how to quickly and easily drain your backflow to prevent damages.
The Art of the Cover-Up
If you have tender annuals, veggies, or new perennials in the ground, they’re going to need a blanket. CSU Extension recommends using frost cloth, which is a specialized, breathable fabric designed to trap heat while letting the plant breathe. Unlike plastic, which can trap cold against the leaves and cause more harm than good, frost cloth provides a much safer buffer.
When you cover them, try to drape the fabric all the way to the ground and weigh the edges down with rocks or bricks. This traps the heat radiating from the soil inside a little "tent" of warmth. CSU Extension notes that keeping your covers dry is key, so if your fabric gets soaked, it can actually make the plant colder through evaporative cooling. Just remember to uncover them once the sun comes up the next morning so they don’t bake under there.
Protecting Your Container Plants
If you have hanging baskets or porch pots, the easiest solution is to simply march them into the garage or a shed for the night. If the forecast is calling for a particularly hard freeze and it's feasible, bringing your favorite containers into the house for a night or two is the safest bet. Even an unheated garage will stay several degrees warmer than the open air.
Stay warm out there, and don't let a little frost get you down. We'll be back to t-shirt weather before you know it!
Learn more from CSU Extension: Frost Protection & Extending The Growing Season
If you are concerned about your landscape or need help picking out the right supplies for your garden, our team is here for you. Whether you are in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Windsor, we are your local resource for navigating the unpredictable Northern Colorado climate. If you have any questions, stop by Fossil Creek Nursery or give us a call; our expert nursery team is happy to help you keep your garden thriving through every season.
