Brrr … As I compile this month’s article on the last Saturday of January, today is shaping up to be the coldest weekend of the year so far here in Tallapoosa County. No snow is predicted at this time for us, but it has been much colder and more frigid than our normal Alabama winters. I’ll be inside today, where it is warm and cozy, sipping hot chocolate, because it’s way too cold for outdoor chores and too cold to garden.
Each time we have freezing weather forecasted, weather experts always remind us of the three P’s: protect your pipes, pets and plants. Well, for most of our dormant landscape plants and home lawns, they will be just fine. In fact, this cold midwinter weather pattern is actually great for fruit trees to get those valuable chilling hours. The concern is to take care of and bring in tender plants that could be hurt or killed by freezing temperatures. Tropical plants, citrus and houseplants are naturally quite vulnerable.
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A close-up of a boxwood bush covered in frost. Atmospheric winter background.
Olha Rohach - stock.adobe.com
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Spring frosts, daffodil flowers under the snow.
STOCK
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~ Shane Harris is the County Extension director for Tallapoosa County. Bethany O’Rear is a Horticulture Extension agent serving Central Alabama.
