By SAMANTHA SARACINO
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The cold spell in East Tennessee this weekend could cause issues for your plants, especially those in early bloom.
Some plants have already started to bud or bloom, so those are the ones you need to be concerned about.
The unseasonably mild winter has places like Stanleys Greenhouse busier than usual.
"Whenever it's sunny and warm, people want to get outdoors as much as possible so we've seen an upsurge in business in January, especially from this year to last," said Monte Stanley, co-owner of Stanleys Greenhouse.
When cold weather is on the way, Stanley says keep your plants in mind.
"It's just the sudden drops in temperatures from the 40s to the low 20s to possibly the teens. That's kind of a big change so a little bit of protection might be in order the next couple of nights," Stanley said.
When you cover the plants, make sure you use the right material. "Any kind of cloth material is fine or hay, straw, pine needles. Do not use plastic. That will do more harm than good," Stanley said.
He also says covering your plants can save them, especially their color, as long as you do it before it gets cold.
"Before the sun goes down, because frost can start accumulating, so around 4:00 to 6:00 would be ideal," Stanley said.
So what plants should you worry about the most?
"The plants already in bud or bloom, it might harm them. But not much of the shrubs or trees are out very much for them to be harmed so I don't think you need to worry about those the next few nights," Stanley said.
So when you're pulling out heavy coats and blankets this weekend, don't forget to do the same for your plants so they'll be in good shape on Monday.
Blooming plants can use extra care in cold weather.
Trees are not as likely to be harmed by a cold snap in February.
