You should be ok but to be sure cover with a pot or cardboard box. Grew one for years before moving and never had any problems but never had temps this warm so soon. Once temps go back into the 30s at night it should be fine just dont forget to uncover after it warms up a bit in the AM. Temps to moderate here in the NE after tonight. Scott

This early in the game: protect, protect, protect. 30 would be a moderate freeze in my book. Many people do not realize that frost forms sometimes as high as 35 degrees because the temperatures they report are for about 6 feet above the ground...where a thermometer would be. Heat rises...so 30 could mean more like 26-29 where your hydrangeas are: on the ground! In short, I never take the chance.

My beds are about 15" but because of the slight slope, one side may be more like 12". Last year they didn't seem to bother anything. I'm not convinced they won't, they just haven't. I meant to put up fencing last year, but didn't get to it. Once the plants were past seedling stage, I wasn't so worried that they'd wipe out the garden.

I've been the victim of three crimes - all preventable. 1.) Being assaulted by a man while walking with a friend down a dark street to an unlit parking lot after Fiesta in San Antonio around 2am. I was 19 and clueless. We were more mentally harmed than physically. 2.) My brand new '98 Thunderbird was broken into while parked on the street in front of my house. It was locked but I should have parked in the driveway and not under the shadow of a large tree to the side of the house. 3.) My sister and I were at a salon in a mall and I was getting my hair cut while she was waiting. A guy with a backpack sat next to her and secretly fished her wallet out of her purse. I had just paid her a few hundred dollars because she was going to stay with me for the summer, babysitting my son. Of course her purse was on the floor, totally laid open with her wallet in plain site. The things I do to keep myself safe: -keep all doors locked all the time - security system - keep lights on in the house (even at night) and have motion sensor flood lights on the exterior - big dog who is encouraged to bark - TV stays on when not at home - reporting suspicious activity - being aware of my surroundings and not putting myself in precarious situations