Walk through garden to discover damage
Q. The worst of winter is over. How do I protect my plants from the extremes of warm and cold weather that we are sure to have?
A. Yes, we have seen some “real” winter this year, Twelve days in a row of below zero temperatures, and more than 28 inches of snow, not to mention the torrential rains. The worst is over, hopefully.
What you need to do for the next two months is watch for temperature fluctuations. The most serious issue facing plants during this time is the swing between extreme heat and cold.
Some of the issues confronting our plants as we enter April is frost injury, winter burn, soil heaving and freeze cracks, and sun scald, just to mention a few.
Frost injury occurs in early spring to emerging flowers and leaves when freezing temps cause water in the plant cells to freeze, expand and then rupture cell walls. Plants become limp, blackened or distorted.
Your evergreens, holly and boxwood are going to be dealing with winter burn if you did not heed the fall advice of “water those evergreens” into late fall. They are especially prone to winter burn from winter winds. Spring wind, sun and warm days speed the process.
Add that 3-inch layer of mulch to conserve the moisture or consider using an anti-desiccant to reduce the water loss through leaves.
Get out there and check those perennial plants, especially strawberries and chrysanthemums, that can be damaged by soil heaving. This happens when alternating freezing and thawing of soil pushes the roots up out of the ground, exposing them to cold and drying winds.
Those rapid temperature changes in the spring can also split bark on the southwest side of your newly planted trees and thin barked trees such as maples, lindens and fruit trees. Direct sun heats the bark of the tree during the day then it freezes at night and active tissue is killed. Tree wrap can give them some protection but check for frost cracks/sun scald.
Time to take that late winter walk through your yard and check to see what is out there that needs your attention!
— Bev Krams
• Provided by Master Gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines, and University of Illinois Extension, North Cook Branch Office, Arlington Heights. Call (847) 298-3502 on Wednesdays or email northcookmg@gmail.com. Visit web.extension.illinois.edu/mg.