How to Protect Your Early Spring Garden from a Late Snow Storm

The news stations are calling this the "Winter that just won't quit." Temperatures are supposed to be in the 30's and 40's, with snow a possibility mixed with rain. For those of us in the higher elevations, we know it will be more snow and less rain.

Although it's mid-April, I have already done quite a bid of gardening this year. Therefore, we are taking steps to protect that investment, and if you're a gardener, you should too.

Here is what you can do to protect your spring garden:

Bring delicate potted plants/baskets indoors. We had about a dozen or so plants we had not yet put into the ground, so we brought them into the garage until the cold snap passes. The same with my fuchsia baskets, which involved disconnecting them from their drip irrigation lines. Remember that even if plants are cold-hardy, the weight of wet snow could cause breakage and damage. (I learned the hard way when my blueberry bush lost a couple of canes to breakage.)

Disconnect/clamp off irrigation hoses. Disconnect all hoses at the connection to your home, to keep your pipes from bursting. Drain hoses and irrigation lines as much as possible, and clamp off ends of smaller drip lines.

Cover delicate in-ground plants. If the plant is sturdy, but not very cold-hardy, cover with a thick layer of mulch. Larger bushes can be covered in landscape fabric, tarp, or plastic sheeting weighed down by rocks or mulch. More delicate plants can be covered by an overturned bucket, or sheeting of some sort that is tented away from delicate branches with stakes.

If wind is a consideration for your area, be sure to weigh or stake down coverings, and take down bird feeders or wind chimes that may fly away or break in a strong wind. Shelter lawn furniture and bring umbrellas indoors. Make sure garbage cans are either sheltered away from wind, or the tops are weighed/tied down. Your trash collector would appreciate it if you do not use elastic/bungee cords to secure lids, as accidents are more likely to happen during the collection process that could be harmful to the human who must open that lid.

The good news is that this weather can't possibly last much longer, and Spring must arrive eventually. Taking the time to protect your early garden now can make the difference between having a fabulous garden this summer, and one in which you've had to start over.