winterize me
Seems we got winter a bit early this year. I can't remember it being this cold in early December since ... well since that huge ice storm when we had no power and the low was 17°. When was that, 2002? That sucked so bad.
Come to think of it, it hasn't ever been that cold since that storm. I'm pretty sure because I've been keeping track of winter lows for the garden. Since I started gardening it hasn't dropped below 22°. Which is about 17 degrees above the coldest lows we're supposed to expect, according to the hardiness map. Because of this, I've been risking flowers that aren't supposed to survive the winter here: dahlias, gerber daisies, and a bay leaf to name a few. Which meant I spent yesterday afternoon rushing to buy winterizing supplies and rushing to get them in place. Note to self: check weather forecasts in advance in wintertime!
I was actually most concerned about the hydrangeas. They're not supposed to need winter protection here, but it's been so warm the past few weeks that they've all budded out. Those buds are next year's flowers, and if they freeze now we may not get any flowers at all in spring. The gerber daisies were also sending up new flowers, all of which probably died last night. But I'm not as concerned about that because if they survive the winter, they'll come back fresh in spring and bloom again.
You can buy winterizing supplies, like little plastic tents which cover plants, but that seemed like a waste of money so I improvised. I got a sheet of clear-ish white plastic (actually a painting tarp, 6 ml thick) and a bale of wheat straw. I wrapped the plastic around old stakes we already had, making a sort of plastic box around each hydrangea, and the bay leaf. Filled them up with loose straw, and covered the top with more plastic. Then I used up the rest of the straw by pilling it on top of the gerber daisies, pansies and dahlias. It was dark by the time I finished and I missed a few pansies. I hope they're OK. They're in shade in the morning, which is good. If plants freeze overnight, I've heard that morning sun can actually kill them by warming them up too fast.
It was too dark when I finished to get any photos, but I'll try to get some--well it will be dark tonight too, so maybe tomorrow. Anyway they're not the most attractive things in the world, but who cares if they keep the plants warm. I took the covers off this morning so the plants wouldn't overheat, & will replace them this evening.
Hmm, maybe I should have done the new fig too. I didn't think of that. Dang. It's in a protected location, in front of the white wall of the shed. I hope that's enough.