COLUMBIA S.C. -- Most people will not complain about 70 degrees in early February.
But gardeners may be an exception. The mild winter in the Palmetto State has led to premature blooming of plants and flowers; which is not ideal if another cold snap arrives.
Robin Klein, General Manager with Woodley's Garden Center said not to worry and that there are ways to delay blooming. The most common way is by using ice.
"Ice around the roots like they do at Augusta National; where the Azaleas when they want them to bloom just in time for the Masters. you're just keeping the roots cold to keep them asleep or to keep the sap from rising up."
If temperatures drop again it may stunt growth. Insulating them will prevent that.
"Cover it with a sheet or blanket that night and take the blanket off the next morning. The main thing with that is don't use plastic because it will burn the plant."
And don't let the weather fool you. Fertilizing early could leave plants vulnerable.
"When you fertilize, it encourages a plant to start putting on new growth. And then we'll get a cold snap probably in March sometime. That new, tender growth will be susceptible to frost damage."
Old man winter won't kill plants because they are constantly adapting to changing climates. So don't worry. Just enjoy the beauty.
Visit http://www.woodleygardencenter.com/ to learn more.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH