I just looked at the weather forcast for this weekend, and it looks very unpleasant for here. Highs around -6 and lows below -10. Will this hurt tulips that are up, what about perennials that are just starting to poke up? I am hoping that we will get the possible 10cm of snow first that they are talking about, just for some extra insulation. I have 2 peonies that have eyes emerging that I just planted last year (buckeye belle and double fern leaf) and I really don't want to see them injured. Luckily the others are not up yet! Would it be smart to heap up some bark mulch around the top of the perennials, and then move it aside once it warms up so the crowns don't rot? Or should I just assume that plants rated for this zone will be fine?

I noticed that my lilac bushes and one Bailey compact cranberry shrub all have buds that are just about to open. They are much to green looking for the weather that is forcasted. I guess the nice temps the past week or so have really pushed them along. As much as I don't want to see any damage to the shrubs either, there is a limit to what I will do! My garden has quite a bit of shredded bark mulch on it, so most of my perennials are still happily undergroung.

I did uncover both my golden lights azalea and my endless summer hydrangea since I didn't want them to get moldy at 20 degrees above. Hopefullly the buds of those two plus my double flowering plum bush will not be harmed! I guess this is what I get for zone pushing!!

Janet