Temperatures are forecast to possibly fall below ten degrees (Fahrenheit) this week, maybe even closer to zero. This shouldn’t be a big deal, but in recent years near zero degree temperatures are unusual that once were routine. In this garden, the problem is that a number of marginally cold hardy plants are in the ground and not in pots that can be moved to shelter. It’s likely they’ll all survive, but I’ll give them a little help, just in case.

The standards in our gardens, hollies, azaleas, hydrangeas, and most everything else, require no protection in this cold. I recall days, years ago, when these were killed by subzero temperatures, but that seems long gone. Now, I’m only concerned with fatsias and scheffleras that were planted to intentionally stretch the limits of cold hardiness.

For most of the plants in our gardens, the biggest threat from cold damage is in March and April as the weather turns to spring, but with an occasional freeze sneaking in. But, this cold shouldn’t be a problem, except for the few tender plants. So, for the next few days I’ll stretch a frost cloth over younger plants. This will warm them by a few degrees, just enough. An older fatsia will have no protection and I expect all will be fine.