Anyone else get frosted in the South?

15 years ago

I covered most of my favorite hostas the last two nights, but the only ones that were fully up were my undulatas and Golden Tiaras. None of those were covered, and they are all showing freeze damage. The Tiaras are totally jelled. The undalatas did better, with what at this point looks like minor damage.

We had 27 here at 7:00 AM. It was 36 yesterday morning and nothing uncovered was affected.

All of my favorites that I covered up are looking good. Most of those were just at the pointy-eyes-sticking-out-of-the-ground stage though a few had 2 or 3 leaves unfurled. I covered them with flowerpots and cardboard boxes. Now I am glad that most of my hostas have been slow to show themselves this spring!

Here's to Old Man Winter's last hurrah. I'm glad to see him go. And he is not welcome back any time soon...

How'd the rest of you fare?

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Comments (4)

sunnny
15 years ago
We had some frost and below freezing temps here in East Texas, too. I'm sorry to here about your plants that were affected. We should have a hosta mush party to cheer you up. :)
I was lucky and got all of mine covered and uncovered by begging DH to help me while I was gone. The second I walked in the door I went to check them and they look good - thank goodness.
I'm glad you were able to save at least some from the cold.
Sunny
hostalover67
Original Author
15 years ago
I am a recent transplant here myself (from SE PA). I walked around my yard and could not believe everything that was affected by this morning's freeze! New growth on azaleas, hydrangea, crape myrtle, astilbe, spirea and salvia were all damaged to a greater or lesser degree.

My Golden Tiaras were the worst hit, but I'm sure it's just setback, I'm sure they will bounce back. I need to make some notes of this stuff for future years....

I sure don't remember this ever happening in 19 years of gardening in PA!!! Yes, we had April snow some years, but I don't remember much frost damage... Then again, maybe this year I'm just paying more attention (new house, new gardens)... I guess there's more to learn in moving to a different climate than just plants and soil!

(I am NOT complaining about SC weather... the weather here has one of the best parts of living in the South!!!)
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mary52zn8tx
15 years ago
We got frosted as well. This was the third time I have had to cover. My thoughts were with poor Sunny trying to manage from out of town. I have a few that got some damage. My Michelia Figo suffered more than my hostas. About 80 percent of my hostas are unfurled or well on their way so I had to do something. I have got to get more freeze blankets! I hope that was the last time for this season.
Mary
hosta_freak
15 years ago
I had no frost,but the freeze was bad enough! There was even some leftover snow on some of my plants. I covered my most prized with cardboard boxes,and they came out pristine! Some of the others were not as good,that were uncovered. It's funny you all mention Golden Tiaras,and Undulatas. None of these were covered,as they are like weeds here in the mountains.None of them looked they were even in the freeze! There were many others that look just as good as before the freeze,but I never lost any,even in the big freeze of 2007,in April. It depends on where they are in the garden,as we all have micro-climates in our yards. Many of mine were just emerging,and they will not be affected,and some late-risers are not even showing eyes yet. Hope that answers any questions. Phil

Anyone else get frosted in the South?

Comments (4)

sunnny

hostalover67
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Anyone else get frosted in the South?

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sunnny

hostalover67Original Author

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hostalover67
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