Fluctuating Winter Temperatures Confusing for Plant Life

   Nancy Mason picks up another plant for her garden. She says she enjoys watching her garden bloom but didn't expect it to start so early. Mason, "All of our tulips and buttercups are beginning to bloom, the normal temperature is about 80 degrees in March of April and once they bloom I'm afraid our blooms will be gone."
   Even though rain is in the forecast, around town you can see early signs of Spring. Barn Nursery Manager Sara Melton says many people come in confused, asking for gardening tips. With temperatures fluctuating from 40 to 70 degrees, many plants don't know how to respond.
   Sara Melton, "It's been really warm for the last 30 days and so we have perennials and bulbs that have started to come out of the ground a few inches and we usually see that in February or March."
   Tomorrow's temperature will only hit about 40 degrees. Melton says covering outside plants or mulching can help shield them from cold weather. Melton, "Worst case scenario those will freeze back down to the ground and usually it won't kill the plants but it might disrupt the blooming of tulips or daffodils in the spring or it might set your plants back a few weeks in the spring."
   Houseplants should already be inside. Melton says once they've been exposed to cold weather, they don't usually bounce back. Melton, "If you put anything out in the last few days thinking oh it's nice outside, bring it back in because it's going to get zapped."
   As the nation deals with a variety of weather...many people just want mother nature to make up her mind. Mason, "It's not going to be as beautiful around Easter time."
   Melton, "It needs to get good and cold here for a month and stay that way for a month, that'll be good."