skip to main content

Can I plant in low 30's

2 months ago

last modified: 2 months ago

It's currently 38F at the time of this posting.

I've never planted a non dormant Hydrangea this early and I'm just looking to cross out bucket line to do lists....

I don't expect the nights to dip below freezing anymore.

It may hover over low 30's at night. I can't predict the weather so maybe it might go very LOW 30's..Hopefully not below that. Forecast averages for the next 5 days show to be **predicted 34** low with one night being 31F. Well you know how those weather forecasters ar

I have 2 Macs that have come from a greenhouse and it's fairly been hardened off. Been putting them out during the day, taking them back in at night. 85% of the buds have leafed out There is a small handful of buds pushing out.

Can I cross this off my punchlist and plant them.

Or like all things gardening, be more patient, and just give it 3 more weeks.

LOL. It's work putting them outside and bring them in everyday.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

woodrose
2 months ago
I wouldn't take a chance on losing a plant just to get something done and cross it off my list. I don't know where you live, but weather is unpredictable in most places and can change drastically. If you live where temps are still going down to the 30's at night, it's too early to plant hydrangeas outdoors. You would most likely lose blooms, and maybe the plant, too. Macs are not as hardy as some other types of hydrangeas.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 months ago
If appropriate for your zone, still dormant and properly hardened off you could plant now. But out of dormancy and in leaf, you risk cold damage that would certainly set back the plant, if not more. Wait until last frost or temps overnight consistently in the 40's or above.

btw, late spring freezes are perhaps the most damaging cold event for macs and why 'winter' protection is suggested anywhere that may experience these late freezes. Even in zone 7.
Related Discussions
What should I do? -- Lowe's sold me a wrong plant
Q
Comments (33)
A update on my dealing with Lowes: Yesterday morning I went over to Lowes, ready to talk to them to find out what breed that crepe myrtle was. If it turns out to be something close to a PV, I would just go ahead and keep it without making a fuss. Or if it turns out to be something I don't want, I would ask them find me one to replace it whenever it is available. First we went to the customer service and told the person there the situation of our yard and the wrong label issue and asked what they could do to fix the problem. That guy's answer is "All you need to do is to pull it out and take it here and we will give you a full refund." He said that with such pride as if their one-year-guarrantee is the best solution to keep customers happy. He didn't seem to care when we told him some of the crepe myrtle out there (same as ours) could have been wrong-labelled as well. And I also noticed when we mentioned "Pink Velour" he had this "a crepe myrtle is a crepe myrtle" look in his face. Even though the last thing I wanted to do is to pull that poor plant out....but I was so chilled off by his response. I decided I didn't want to talk to him any more. I could have talked to the garden manager as well. But I was totally discouraged. So I went back home and dug the poor thing out and hauled it back to the store. At the return counter, I told the cashier that those crepe myrtles out there could be wrong-labelled too. She didn't seem to care and didn't make any comment on my concern. I found myself talking into the air! That is the ending of the story. I have put in a lot of work and heart in planting that crepe myrtle.....but the biggest loser is that nameless crepe myrtle itself. When we dug it out and carried it to the car I felt like I had just murdered it. I cried.
...See More
What Can I Plant As Low Groundcover on Hillside In West Virginia?
Q
Comments (1)
It's a pretty broad question and some of the variables still undefined, so I'm not sure how specific one can get. There are MANY plants that would work, although some are not specifically indended as groundcovers. The amount of sunlight and the soil conditions and steepness of the slope will be the primary determinates, but I don't see why you couldn't maintain your cottage garden style throughout this area as well with a careful selection. If enough sun, things like dianthus, creeping phlox, even groundcover (sometimes sold as flowercarpet) roses would work. For fragrance, dianthus is a great candidate, as is sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) or lily of the valley (Convallaria majalus), but those two prefer some shade. The attached link will connect you to a factsheet on GC's for West Virginia, as well as a number of plant-specific resources. Remember that a primary attribute of GC's is to spread and cover some real estate, so be prepared to deal with some aggressive, spreading behavior with certain species, but with attention, all can be controlled and contained. As to deer resistance, IME they will taste pretty much anything and depending on other fodder available, can dine quite heartily on even those plants with a reputation for deer resistance. Once you've made some lists of choices, I'd double check with local sources for those that are the least palatable. Here is a link that might be useful: groundcover resources
...See More
Lows in the 30's tomorrow morning!
Q
Comments (12)
Thanks - I didn't know that. So all I have to do is wait until noon for them to post the dew point for the N. Canton station (about 3 miles from my house, all downhill) and that will be the low for the next 24 hours? Got all the tomatoes in cardboard boxes on shelves - some berry boxes are stacked but not touching fruit below. I gave up on individually wrapping fruit but did make sure they weren't touching, laid 2 layers of paper on top and then put next layer of fruit in the hollows in between the lower fruits. Now I just have to check Tomato forum to see how often to check them - I do have them sorted by ripeness, with ripest ones in top layer. Haven't gotten out to uncover the peppers yet (did take Reemay off the 1 long row of tomatoes) or take hay off those few tomato plants but since high was only 65 today I figured it could wait til morning. Gotta blanch 2 big bags of green beans (some left over from Wed!) and make pickles from cukes (in ice water) picked yesterday. Plus make dinner for the 3 of us, then another dinner for DS after he gets home from XC meet. Did I mention that tomorrow is Open Farm Day and I have no brochures, photos, anything prepared to "introduce" people to my farm? I might just print up more business cards and treat it more as a market (I'm setting up at someone else's farm due to my driveway being in a different town). There's always next year. So much to do, so little time!
...See More
Plants were left outside in low 30s...
Q
Comments (2)
It looks like there is more damage.. I'm so sorry.. You might have to cut back more.. Like Jedoba mentioned. It will show signs in the coming days.. Laura
...See More
a1an
Original Author
2 months ago
Thx. I guess I was seeking intervention and needed to hear it ....
luis_pr
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I would wait until after the average date of last frost for your city too. I once tried bringing an actively growing hydrangea in & out based on overnight temperatures, as you are doing, when I purchased a florist hydrangea specimen from Kroger's in mid-December. Being a florist hydrangea, I knew it would be old wood blooming only and not winter hardy in my Texas zone 8 but, how much work. You do not realize how wild those temperatures can be at certain points in the year. I finally decided I would never do that again. By the way, you need to be aware that there is something called 'patchy frost' that can occur at temperatures ranging up to 42F so consider bringing the plant outside when overnight temperatures will be > 42F instead of > 32F.
artinnature
2 months ago
"I don't expect the nights to dip below freezing anymore"

I was in much the same situation last late winter. I had a fully leafed out and blooming macrophylla that I planted outside on March 25 thinking it was safe, but it was completely defoliated on April 14 by a 25.3F morning. It did survive and grew vigorously later in the summer, but it was nothing but 2" tall twigs for many weeks after the freeze.

Related Stories

THE POLITE HOUSE The Polite House: What Can I Do About My Neighbors’ Trash Cans?

If you’re tired of staring at unsightly garbage way before pickup day, it’s time to have some tough conversations

GARDENING GUIDES Alpine Plants: High Performers at Low Altitudes Too

By Matt Kilburn

So Heidi and the goats aren't your neighbors. Alpine plants can be lovely and low maintenance on difficult sites beyond the mountains

PLANTING IDEAS 7 Stunning Plant Combinations for Low-Water Gardens

By Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Find inspiration in these beautiful drought-tolerant companion plantings

CONTAINER GARDENS Yes, You Can Grow a Plant In That

By Jess McBride

You can upcycle your old typewriter, paint cans, tires and many more things into places for your plants

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How Low Can Hedges Go? Discover Unusual Garden Borders

Short enough to step over, high enough to be a stretch ... check out these radically different hedge styles and tell us your opinion

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Rhus Aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ Handles Many Tough Sites

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant ‘Gro-Low’ fragrant sumac in eastern and midwestern U.S. gardens for its tolerance of tough sites, spreading form and orange fall color

HOUSEPLANTS Grow Donkey Tail Succulent, a High-Impact, Low-Maintenance Plant

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Easy-care Sedum morganianum is perfect for hanging planters and mixed containers

SAVING WATER Great Plants for Lush, Low-Water Gardens

By Christine Tusher

Water restrictions making your garden look washed out? Give it living color with unthirsty grasses, flowers and succulents

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Gorgeous Plant Combos With Low-Water Ornamental Grasses

By Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Use a variety of plant heights, textures and sizes, as well as leaves and flowers in varying colors, for a pleasing design

ORGANIZING 10 Decluttering Projects You Can Do in 30 Minutes or Less

By Laura Gaskill

Don’t stress about the mess — just take one countertop or bookcase at a time

More Discussions

Love-a-lot Pink? Strawberry Sunday? Quick Fire Fab? zone 7a

1

So how are the Macs looking so far for everyone?

4

New Growth on Mac

1

Azure skies, pop star, rock and roll, red sensation

1

Let Dance Can Do

3