Summer came, then two hard freezes

3 months ago

We jumped into summer in March. By early April the redbuds were in bloom but didn't last long in the heat. They began to leaf out--far too early--and then lst night and the night before we had two freezes in a row, the second colder than the first--24 degrees. So the redbuds will have to releaf as will both Ilex verticillata, male and female. The Vernonia 'Iron Butterfly' was also hit hard--I didn't expect that. And the Calycanthus 'Aphrodite', only its second year, is looking bad enough that I think it will have to releaf as well.

We're in the start of a drought here too--very dry for what used to be spring.

Featured Answer

laceyvail 6A, WV
Original Author

3 months ago

The changing climate is bringing chaos to the weather. Hard on the plants, hard on the gardener, hard on food supplies, hard on birds dependent on time of food supply for their young, hard on fish and coral reefs in warming oceans.

Gonna be really hard on humans too.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

Sherry8aNorthAL
3 months ago
Yes, we are having little to no April showers, so for May flowers we will have to have sprinklers.
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
3 months ago
Not great here, either. Same weather. Even common lilac leaves got zapped. Can’t say I’ve ever seen that
Related Professionals
Atlantic City Landscape Contractors · Seattle Landscape Contractors · Vineland Home Builders · Lufkin Home Builders · San Diego Home Builders · Carbondale Landscape Contractors · Olean Landscape Contractors · Des Moines Home Builders · Elizabeth City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wichita Falls Landscape Contractors · Grand Rapids Landscape Contractors · Oxnard Landscape Contractors · Montrose Landscape Contractors · Annapolis Home Additions · Auburn Home Additions
jrb451
3 months ago
We’re +15” behind where we normally are in rainfall since November. I watered Azaleas in December to protect them from the unusually low temperatures predicted. And, again in March. I’ve never done this before.

I just turned off the sprinklers in our Daylilly bed after watering for 6 hours. April is typically our wettest month. No telling what the summer will be like.
41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
3 months ago
growing drought in the Southeast, Mid Atlantic and Northeast..., not a local issue. temps all over the place..., 96 F, near freezing the next. nothing is normal anymore.
laceyvail 6A, WV
Original Author
3 months ago
No, nothing is normal anymore. Nothing.
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
3 months ago
We’re +15” behind where we normally are in rainfall since November.

In contrast our location is now 115% of normal for precip for the month of April....continuing the trend of above 100% average for each of the past 4 months. (I "need" this water in August).
bengz6westmd
3 months ago
Yes, all months since last July here below avg rainfall, many way below. One reason is there hasn't been hardly any south to east-quadrant moisture-flow where this area gets the most rain -- the only time that happened was the one snow and sleet storm in Jan.
41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago
Guess the Gulf is currently shut down for business. Supposed to have growing El Niño develop by Summer, meanitme, there is this...Marine Heat Wave

link 2
BillMN-z4a
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago
We had 84d today, unreal.

Chinook winds.
laceyvail 6A, WV
Original Author
3 months ago
We had 90 a few days ago, then 24 the night before last. Never saw redbud leaves hit before.
BillMN-z4a
3 months ago
Just saw wild fires breaking out in Georgia, on the news just now.

Dry here too.
41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
3 months ago
We had 95-97 for a few days and then back to 33F, no real damage on anything though, my Japanees Maple and Gingko leaves are out now. It is rather dry but nothing severe yet. I am not a fan of April here in NJ.
BillMN-z4a
3 months ago
The cool nights have been slowing bud break on the conifers.

I been watering only the small, newer plantings, with a few exceptions.

The reports of rain next week all fizzle out by the time next week gets here.
laceyvail 6A, WV
Original Author
3 months ago
Yes, that happens here too--rain forecast then it fizzles out to 15 drops if we get anything at all.