Extension

Courtney DeKalb-Myers, Assistant Extension Specialist for Consumer Horticulture

 

Oklahoma is slowly thawing out after a week of wintry weather. The storm brought rounds of snow and ice, as well as bitter cold temperatures. Gardeners might be wondering how this will impact their gardens, especially after earlier winter temperatures were unseasonably warm. Here are a few considerations before moving into spring:

 

The majority of Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7, with the panhandle in zone 6 and the southern portion along the Red River in zone 8. Hardiness zones are defined by the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. This corresponds to a low between 0° and 10°F for zone 7, which largely reflects what was experienced this past week. It is unlikely this recent winter event will cause damage if landscape plants are adapted to zone 7. If a gardener is experimenting with marginally hardy species labeled for zone 8 or higher, there’s a chance that these plants could have been affected.

 

The storm also included large amounts of snow for parts of the state. For gardens and landscapes, snow can act like a cozy blanket. Snow traps air and insulates the soil, reducing heat loss and minimizing temperature fluctuations. If daffodils or other spring bulbs had begun to emerge, then it’s likely that the snow kept these tender shoots protected. Additionally, snow protects stolons (aboveground stems) in bermudagrass. In the vegetable garden, fall-planted garlic and perennial herbs were likely also protected by the blanket of snow.

 

Snow insulation is great for protecting our plants, but it can also protect overwintering insects. Temperatures were well below freezing for a few days, but the snow provided protection. It’s unlikely that insect populations were affected. It’s still critical to scout early in the spring to be proactive with insect management.

 

The snow brings much-needed moisture to the Oklahoma landscape. Each inch of snow equates to a tenth of an inch of rain. The slow and steady melt allows for the moisture to soak into the soil, rather than creating runoff challenges.

 

It’s important to note that Oklahoma has seen unseasonably warm temperatures up until this event. Some plants might have responded and started to break dormancy earlier this month. Plants that were beginning to show signs of swollen buds or slowly emerging new growth might have been affected by the storm. Regrowth might be patchy for these plants this spring. In this case, wait until it’s evident which portions of the plants were negatively affected before pruning.

 

Winter weather is increasingly variable. A blanket of snow can protect plants and soil, but warm spells followed by cold snaps can create uneven outcomes. Gardening is a practice of patience and this spring will be no different for Oklahoma.