Gardens look like April, not March: weather in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko

Does it seem that your crocuses, daffodils or other plants are budding—even blooming—early this year?

“There’s no question about it,” said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. “We are ahead of where we would normally be. It looks like April instead of March.”

The Southern Tier has also seen warmer temperatures than usual, said said Kelly McDonald, executive director and Master Gardener at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus County.

While it’s exciting to see these flowers now, there’s a problem: winter isn’t over. As I write this, most or all of Western New York has freezing temperatures and snow. How will the early warmth, followed by cold, affect your plants?

Here is what you should keep in mind.

Spring bulb plants

Your crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths are hardy and won’t be hurt by the cold that we’re getting now, Farfaglia and McDonald agreed. Don’t worry about them.

Perennials

Perennials should survive this cold weather, Farfaglia said. The worst that might happen is cold weather damaging early emerging leaves, but the damage would be only cosmetic.

If you’re worried, “You could cover the plants every night,” he said, “but it’s not worth the time and effort.”

Sensitive shrubs

Hydrangeas and rhododendrons are sensitive shrubs, McDonald said. Last year they blossomed before the last frost, which damaged the flowers, and that could happen again this year.

If your sensitive shrubs are budding and your area is expecting a frost, cover the shrub with burlap or other material to protect it.

It is still winter in WNY

Yes, it’s spring on the calendar, but that has nothing to do with our climate.

“We all know that in Western New York it can be 65 degrees one day and 35 the next,” Farfaglia said.

A couple weeks ago I wore shorts, but today it’s windy, snowy and definitely winter-jacket weather.

Don’t be lulled into thinking that spring is actually here.

Can you plant earlier than usual this year?

No!

You should go by the last frost date for your area, say both McDonald and Farfaglia.

For example, at the Buffalo International Airport, there is a 90 percent probability that April 22 will be the last date to have a low of 36 degrees Fahrenheit. However, there’s still a 10 percent chance that there could be a low of 36 degrees as late as May 19. For Jamestown, there is a 90 percent probability that May 4 is the last date for a low of 36 degrees, with a 10 percent chance that June 2 could have a low of 36.

Note: Frost can occur even when the air temperature is above freezing, due to cold air settling, microclimate variations and other factors. Many frosts occur when the air temperature is in the mid-30s.

See the last frost for other Western New York areas on the page with U.S. Climate Normals from the National Centers for Environmental Information, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Note: The links above may not work right now; the website for National Centers for Environmental Information is having some technical issues. You may have to try again later.

Don’t forget that Western New York has new gardening zones, McDonald said. See the new version of the Plant Hardiness Zone Map that was released in November.

Some things you can do earlier this year

Since the ground hasn’t been in a deep freeze, you could get out earlier to dig, test your soil or add compost, McDonald said. That will give you something to do on a weekend when the weather is nice.

Reminder: Don’t rake your leaves until the low temperature is 50 degrees for a week, she said. Raking too soon could disturb hibernating insects.

Pulling weeds is another thing you can do with unfrozen soil. (If your ground is wet, don’t step in the garden. That will compact the soil, which isn’t good for the roots of your plants.)

Agriculture

The early warm weather, followed by cold, could be a problem for agriculture.

It’s a concern for fruit orchards in Niagara County, Farfaglia said. If the blossoms open too early, then the area gets a frost, it could kill the open blossoms. That prevents the fruit from forming, which would decrease the yield of fruit.

The warm weather affected sugar maple trees, McDonald said. The sap flowed earlier than usual and not as long.