in theory.. the pips have been there all winter .... so cold should not be an issue ... and for me.. they been in frozen ground .....

once they start to leaf out.. they have to be protected ...

ken

oh... and dont leave the black pots on too long into the next day ... warm sun under the pot will make them leaf out faster

Not doing anything to protect them this year. Looked like a little damage last night to montana Aureo with two more colder nights coming.

Ken - Yeah, I don't want them to leaf out any sooner than necessary. On the other hand, it's only going to be a high of 38 today, not sure how sunny.

it was 70 yesterday ;... and snow on the ground this morning ...

AM.. as i recall.. is always the first one to start leafing out .. and the first one to get damaged ... go figure ..

and ... they can releaf even from a bad frost or even freeze ... on stored energy ... but the plant might be set back a season ...

and if they go all gooey on you from such.. just leave it alone .. it will dry and flake off.. and give some protection to the plant under the goo .. do not get all wound up about it.. and go out there chopping all the ugly stuff off ...

ken

No damage here! And even more pips on the upward direction! But... freeze could still happen.

Hopefully I am not looking at a freeze this year......last year we had one in mid May, I believe. All the leaves were up, some more than others. Krossa was hit and the leaves showed it most of the season. I am in no condition to run around covering things up this year.

debra

old_dirt I am glad you got them covered. I have had damage to emerging eyes of that size in the past. You had enough problems last year, better safe than sorry.

Debra I will be keeping my fingers crossed for all of us!

my hostas are only pips..none have unfurled..
my saddest situation..some macrophylla hydrangeas that usually die to the ground have leafed out!..it seemed possible that I could have blooms this year..but the freezing temperatures could take them down..
still deciding if and how I could cover them..

I bought these years ago..I believed the "reblooming" hype..it's not true!..they don't bloom in colder zones..I'll never buy (or recommend) macrophyllas to anyone in a zone lower than 7...

What a good topic! I have spent the past 3.5 hours covering and moving hostas. Deep frost is coming tonight and tomorrow. If it were only for 1-2 hours, I would at least put sheets over the hydrangeas with some posts to keep the sheets off the growth tips. Sadly, 6+ hours of freeze will not be phased by sheets.

So, here’s my potting shed. The rest of my yard looks like Old Dirt’s.

My yard also looks like old dirt's without the rocks on top. I put out over 50 pots and hope the wind doesn't start blowing. I used every big pot I have saved over the years and then covered other areas with trays and sheets over the trays. My husband didn't understand why I have been saving all those pots for years.I haven't had to use them too many times but we are having 2 nights of 32 degrees and many of my hosta are leafed out. The blessings and curses of early warm weather.

I covered one peony..it's young..this will be summer #2..I had the perfect sized box so I covered it..
the hydrangeas cover at least a 4 by 12? area..supporting sheets over that large an area needs 8?10? supports..weight all around the bottom..it was too involved..I'm sad that the weather's cold..I'll live with whatever happens..🙁

utog..that's a lot of work to move all those pots..I hope you had a wagon..

In case anyone is not aware, the most recent Hosta Society Newsletter has an extensive article about what works best in frosts situations. I think most of you are already doing what’s recommended. Nonetheless, it’s a good read.

debra

I saved them all. The hydrangeas took a frost hit, but should still bear a few flowers. I am sore all over from so much lifting and carrying.

I just saw my hydrangeas 😪..some leaves look ok some don't..the hostas seem fine..I took a pic of Striptease and Pineapple Upside Down Cake..I didn't know until now that they were up..

Hydrangeas are fine unless you put coverings on them that touch the leaves, then from my experience the leaves are damaged. I run around the yard with large garbage cans and carefully put my hydrangeas under them as best as I can. It doesn't always work since the plants grow larger each year but at least it's worth a try. What I do know is that sheets put directly over the hydrangeas will harm the leaves wherever they touch the leaves if moisture forms and then frost, etc. The Hosta society article confirmed what happened to me. I guess the best thing to do is to put in stakes before it gets cold in the fall and then in the spring suspend the coverings over the stakes which prevents the leaves from touching the covers, but who has time to do this in the fall? If you do, please come to my place and I will gladly pay you well to do so for me, lol.