EXPLAINER: How to save your plants from frost
As the potential for the first freeze looms in the Omaha metro, a local expert has some tips on keeping your plans safe.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Early next week, the Omaha metro could see nighttime low temperatures in the 30s.
As the colors of falls replace the summer hues, cold weather is on its way, and if you want to save your outdoor plants, you might want to listen to Bob Ewing.
He was working indoors at Mulhall’s Garden Center on Thursday.
“A lot of people right now, they’ve got their mums out like we have right behind us, and basically what you’re going to need to do with those is cover them up,” said Ewing. “Use an old sheet or something like that to cover them, protect them from the frost, depending on how cold it gets. if we get a freeze, be sure that you don’t use plastic.”
Bob also says it’s a good idea to use mulch to help your outdoor plants live a long life.
“Putting mulch around your plant will really help retain moisture,” he said. “We’re really back in that drought situation right now, haven’t had rain in almost two months, so mulch in your plants is important, especially to help get them through the wintertime.”
Cherri Luna is going a different way, planting native grasses and plants.
‘These are meant for our area, so they’ll go dormant and then they’ll come back in the spring,” said Luna.
Cherri believes more people are starting to opt for native plants and grasses.
“They’re trying to get you to do more native things, more of a meadow-type thing instead of a grassy lawn,” she said. “I’m still not quite there yet for that one.”
Ewing said that during COVID, there was a spike in gardening as people wanted to stay safe and get outdoors. Things have leveled off, Bob said, but it did produce more people who now have an interest in gardening.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
