Mild Weather Early Signs of Spring

It's not unusual for Indiana weather to have trouble deciding what season it is. Recent warm spells have had many gardeners wondering what to do about bulbs, and perhaps a few plants that are poking their foliage through the soil. Just what should gardeners do about daffodils, dianthus and daylilies poking out of the ground?

The good news is that no action is required. We're used to seeing this happen in late winter during a February warm spell. The plants will survive just fine.

The longer the mild weather stays around, the more potential there is for damage when below-freezing temperatures return. Foliage that has popped up may be killed back, but the bulbs and storage roots should remain undamaged underground. As the plants completely push out in spring, damaged foliage will appear brown, giving plants a raggedy appearance. But the plants themselves will survive.

Flower buds on spring-flowering trees and shrubs are also starting to plump up, but should be fine so far. As buds progress in their development, they become more susceptible to freeze damage. And, spring is still over a month away, leaving plenty of opportunity for fluctuating temperatures. There isn't much we can do about the weather except to sit back and wait to see what Mother Nature has in store for us!

Consider these spring garden preparations as we enjoy a few warmer days this week

Gardening may be the last thing on many peoples mind this time of the year, but remember these very important gardening chores you can be completing now to save time and headaches as the garden season rolls around.

• Order seeds before it's too late for this year's planting.  You still have time to order from your favorite garden catalog.  You may consider testing leftover garden seed for germination. Place 10 seeds between moist paper toweling or cover with a thin layer of soil. Keep seeds warm and moist. If less than six seeds germinate, then fresh seed should be purchased. 

• Sketch garden plans for your ornamental and edible gardens, including plants that need to be replaced.  Remember to rotate your edible plants each year if you can.  This will reduce insect and disease pressure on those plants you plant each year.   

• Prepare or repair lawn and garden tools for the upcoming season. See below for more detailed information.  

• Start seeds indoors for cool-season vegetables so they will be ready for transplanting to the garden early in the season. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage seeds should be started five to seven weeks prior to transplanting.  Look below for a link to the recommended planting dates for all vegetables in Indiana

Helpful Publications:

  Starting Seeds Indoors

  Caring for Garden Tools

  Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar

Rosie Lerner Addresses Early Bud Break in Indiana Gardens

Q. During the mild December weather, some of our bulbs started to come up. What will happen to these plants when the weather turns colder this winter? Will they still flower this spring?

A. We’ve heard many similar reports from across the state about bulbs, perennials and some woodies coming out of dormancy. December 2015 was the third mildest on record in central Indiana, according to the National Weather Service. Some plants require less chilling units than others, resulting in some plants responding to mild conditions while others not. Many urban dwellers, in particular, may notice microclimate effects where protected locations seem more prone to this response.  

Tulip bulb emerging

In general, this is not the first or last time that plants have gone through similar or more extreme temperature fluctuations. While it is not likely to cause long-term damage, there could be decreased flowering potential if plants come further out of dormancy followed by normal or below-normal cold temperatures. There is much more weather to get through this winter before we can know the outcome!

Rosie Lerner - Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulturist

Not all Firewood Heats Equally

Heating costs seem to rise each year with the ever-increasing demand on our nations' energy sources. Many have found wood is an excellent asset in offsetting yearly heating costs. With wood being a renewable fuel source a glowing fire can be a practical complement to any central heating system and can go a long way toward aiding the pocketbook.   The EPA has found wood burned for home heating is a leading cause of air pollution in many cities. Wood stoves sold after July 1, 1988 must meet certain air quality standards.

Certain species of wood produce more heat than others. The heat a log produces depends on the density, moisture content, resin and ash in the wood.   Below are Indiana trees that have high heat production values.   

      Ash, Apple, Black Locust, American Hornbeam, Dogwood, Hickory, Hophornbeam, Hackberry, Mulberry, Oak, and Osage Orange.   

Indiana woodland owners have an excellent source of firewood on their own properties. Not only is the heat source provided, but also the quality of the woods can be upgraded with the removal of more undesirable trees for firewood. Undesirable trees are those that are poorly formed, diseased, or damaged.  

For those with no access to a woods, there are many other means of obtaining firewood. Most firewood is sold by the cord. A standard cord is a stack of wood 4 x 4 x 8 feet.  Wood is also often available as industrial wood scraps. There are several sawmills in Indiana, and some mills offer slabs, edgings and trimmings for firewood. 

Most wood species will not burn readily if they have been freshly cut, so the wood should be reasonably seasoned. Wood should also be purchased months prior to use. Proper wood size, well-seasoned wood and a mixture of various kinds of wood will enhance the enjoyment of your fireplace or wood stove.

Purdue Extension has several publications on heating with firewood. Check out these publications for more information.  Residential Wood Stove Installation and Wood for Home Heating.  

Winter Protection for Young Thin Barked Landscape Trees

Prevent bark splitting of young and thin-barked trees, such as fruit and maple trees. Wrap trunks with light colored tree wrap, or paint them with white latex (not oil-based) paint, particularly on the south- and southwest-facing sides.

Protect shrubs such as junipers and arborvitae from extensive snow loads by tying their stems together with twine. Carefully remove heavy snow loads with a broom to prevent limb breakage.

Protect broadleaves, evergreens or other tender landscape plants from excessive drying (desiccation) by winter sun and wind. Canvas, burlap or polyethylene plastic screens to the south and west protect the plants. Similarly, shield plants from salt spray on the street side.

Provide winter protection for roses by mounding soil approximately 12 inches high to insulate the graft union after plants are dormant and temperatures are cold. Additional organic mulch such as straw compost or chopped leaves can be placed on top.

By B. Rosie Lerner
Purdue Extension  - Consumer Horticulturist

State climate office: Mild and dry weather expected initially this winter in Indiana

Indiana likely will be mild and dry early this winter and then return to more normal weather later in the season, the Indiana State Climate Office says.

The outlook will be seen as comforting to those who don't like cold and snow. The two previous winters in Indiana for the most part were cold - at times brutally so - and included heavy snowstorms.

Yet climatologists caution that this does not mean Indiana won't have blustery cold snowstorms that blow through the region during the peak of the winter months.

Winter weather in the Midwest is often driven by combinations of global weather patterns, known as oscillations. One oscillation may have more influence over all others in determining what any winter season turns out to be like in Indiana.

Click here for the full article provided Ag Answers