freeze coming, should I cover my roses, azaleas, tulips and bloodgood tree?

Question

Live in Kansas (this is our first year planting here) and this week after being in the 70's and 80's we are expecting 4 days of cold weather 28 on one night, possibly even some snow, we just finished planting bare root roses, azaleas, lilac bush, and a Japanese bloodgood maple tree and the tulips are in full bloom. Should I cover the plants to protect them, or will they be alright? Hopefully someone can answer soon, as the weather is supposed to set in tonight and last until Sat. Tues 64/31, Wed 51/30, Thurs 47/31, Fri 49/32, Sat 43/28. Thank you

Answer 1

Of the plants you mentioned, only the roses need to be covered. However, if you've put out any early annuals such as violas, pansys, snapdragons, etc. or any early veggies such as peas, lettuce, onions, radishes, etc., or have a cold frame, you should cover them. It looks like it will be Sunday in the Plains, Monday in the Great Lakes, and Tuesday in New England before the threat of a hard freeze eases up. It's our last bit of winter!

Answer 2

I assume these are all new plantings? If you have compost, throw that down around the base of your plants, that will help keep to warm. Then tarps, tarps are better than sheets, but be careful not to 'cook' your plants if the sun comes out. It is best to remove them once things start to warm up. You can use some sort of cage, sticks, dowel rods, *anything* to keep the tarps from getting heavy and breaking your plants. Tarps will give you about 4 degrees of frost protection, sounds like just what you need.

Answer 3

My garden regularly gets down to 20 deg F in winter and have all the plants you have growing and don't cover any of them. The roses will probably tolerate the worst cold my garden books say down to Zone 4 which is colder than -10 deg F. Your plants should not die not too cold for any of them.

You may find that any new growth you have may be 'burnt off'. This won't matter, the plant will shed these damaged leaves, and after a pause to see if temperatures will drop again will regrow new ones.

Answer 4

YES. Cover them with a sheet.Be sure to remove the sheet before the sun comes up to prevent them from burning

Answer 5

The tulips are pretty hardy, but I wouldn't take a chance on the other. For a good, cheap cover, go to the party supply store and buy those thin, banquet-style tablecloths that are $1 each, instead of tarps.

Answer 6

I am in zone 5, and we have the same forecast. I am not covering anything. Anything that is up now is meant to be up, and will be able to stand the change. Oh, I've never covered anything in 50 years.

Answer 7

difficult problem. search on to bing and yahoo. this might help!

Answer 8

yes best be safe