skip to main content

Can I plant in low 30's

last year

last modified: last year

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
last year
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)
last year
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
Brrrrrr!!!!!!! 30's tonight here. Bringing plants in
Q
Comments (20)
tamparookie, Hey, we are neighbors! I am just East of you in Forest Hills. Our forecast has become considerably better than it was this morning. We were supposed to hit 31. Now it's more like 36. I can deal with that. 36 will not damage a lot more plants than 31 will. Also, this area of town seems to escape the worst low temperatures because there are so many lakes around here. I think you'll be fine tonight. Tomorrow may present more problems, as the wind will be greatly diminished, and we will probably get frost. I hardly have any plants that die above freezing. I am shortly going out to water some things, to prevent as much suffering as I can. My veggie crop got a late start this year. And so far, this has been a bad year for a late veggie start. Coldest November in a few years at least. My tomatoes were just starting to really get going. I'll do what I can and call it a night. Natural Selection!!!
...See More
Plant lights, heat - how low can you go?
Q
Comments (2)
The curry leaf plants seem fine - I've been keeping the lights VERY close - but I think I may have fried the basil I had planted in the same flat. I scared myself into thinking they had basil downy mildew, but the plant pathology lab pronounced them "free of pest or disease ... healthy plants" - except for the brown speckles and necrotic edges of the leaves, LOL! I'm talking right up to the lights. With a fan running I had hoped they would be ok, and for the most part they have been. But I think I pushed it a little too far and fried the basil.
...See More
mid to low 30s - pick half green now?
Q
Comments (12)
I think the newspaper treatment is wasted effort. If the green toms have even a faint white star on the blossom end they usually will make it to ripening. Some will "leak" or get mold along the way but maybe 75% will make it. The better shape the green tomato is in the better chance it will eventually ripen well. Cracked tomatoes will rot before they ripen so discard those and only save the nice green ones with that white star. Some will ripen sooner than others. I've had some green ones take a month to ripen this way. Some only a few days. Right now I have a few ready to eat every day and I pulled my plants a week or two ago. They ripen just fine on a table. I'd hate to unwrap a mushy moldy tomato from it's newspaper covering. My table way I see what's going on and toss the "leakers"...
...See More
Do I need to cover my newly planted JM tonight? Lows in the 30s.
Q
Comments (2)
No need to cover. JM's are quite frost hardy, although the foliage will likely just drop off now.
...See More
a1an
Original Author
last year
Thx. I guess I was seeking intervention and needed to hear it ....
luis_pr
last year
last modified: last year
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
last year
"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

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Tips for Planting a Beautiful, Low-Maintenance Landscape

By Marianne Lipanovich

Landscape pros share their advice for planning a garden that’s easy to care for

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

Sponsored

More Discussions

Too many to list anymore

11

Is there another name for a Hydrangea named "Sarena Blue"?

2

Is Magical Revolution the same as Everlasting Revolution?

3

Hydrangea bobo vs. hydrangea little hottile.

2

Looking for white hygrengea in 6b

1