The Landscape Alert
Potential for Frost across Georgia Looming Early Next Week
Matthew Chappell, University of Georgia Horticulture Department
If you are like many Georgia residents, you have broken
out the shorts and t-shirts. Across much of Georgia, plant material is in the
same mood, with buds breaking on all but the latest plant material. However,
you need to be aware that the weather is about to take a typical spring swing
to colder temperatures. The National Weather Service offices in Peachtree City,
Tallahassee, and Greenville/Spartanburg are all
forecasting at or below freezing temperatures across the vast majority of Georgia
on Monday night (4/6); as far south as the GA/FL boarder and east as
Statesboro. To make matters worse, Tuesday night (4/7) could be a repeat
frost/freeze for those of us north and east of I-75 and I-16.
Please be aware that the forecast is apt to change (for better or worse) and
that growers and landscapers should prepare plant material and inform clients
on the possible frost/freeze. Detailed weather forecasts can be obtained online
at http://www.weather.gov/ or
via NOAA weather radio. In many cases landscape plants can be protected from
frost. See the following links on cold protection. For a NOAA graphic of Georgia's
average last frost dates, see below. (Original article released
by the Georgia Green Industry Association - www.ggia.org)
(Editor’s note: See the
following publications for ideas on protecting plants from the cold.)
Cold Protection - http://apps.caes.uga.edu/urbanag/Home&Garden/indexFS.cfm?storyid=2739
Cold Damage and Ornamental Plants -
http://apps.caes.uga.edu/urbanag/Home&Garden/indexFS.cfm?storyid=2626
Using Irrigation for Cold Protection -
http://apps.caes.uga.edu/urbanag/Industry/LandScapeLine/Archive/Landscape_Line.pdf
Winter Injury to Evergreens (What to do after a freeze) - http://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/documents/January2008.pdf
Please share this information with others in the landscape & turf industry. For more information:
Call your local Extension Agent at (800) ASK-UGA1 or locate your local Extension Office at
www.caes.uga.edu/extension/statewide.cfm
Pest Management Handbook (Follow all label recommendations when using any pesticide) - www.ent.uga.edu/pmh/
For current weather conditions, historical data and applications see - www.georgiaweather.net
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Willie Chance
UGA Cooperative Extension Agent, Houston County
Outreach Coordinator, Center for Urban Ag
801 Main Street, Perry, GA 31069
(478) 987-2028, [log in to unmask],
Fax (478) 987-8099
Subscribe to our free bi-monthly email newsletter for central Georgia home gardeners, The Garden Bench, by emailing [log in to unmask]
The Landscape Alert educates the Georgia landscape industry through email about current issues, pests and opportunities. Subscribe by emailing [log in to unmask]
Find gardening and landscape information at www.gaurbanag.org/ or www.ugaextension.org/houston/
Watch the Master Gardener segment each second Saturday of the month during the 7 o’clock hour on Weekend Morning with Suzanne Lawler, 13WMAZ-TV, Macon.
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