The expertise of Bob King, director of the Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute at MCC, was featured among others in an interesting article in Saturday's Democrat and Chronicle about flower and fruit predictions for this spring based on this past winter's weather conditions.
Surveying the landscape
Frigid weeks have left a scar, but most gardens should weather late-winter storms
HYPERLINK "mailto:lhutch@democratandchronicle.com"Lisa Hutchurson
Staff writer
(February 24, 2007) — A small number of flowers may not bloom this spring, after the warmest December on record was abruptly followed by ice, snow and bitter cold.
That may hurt some fruit yields, say experts, and some bulb and perennial plant foliage may be damaged. But it looks like gardeners and landscape perfectionists have little to worry about.
And neither do lilac lovers.
"The lilacs are not in jeopardy," says Tom Pollack, superintendent of horticulture for the Monroe County Parks Department. "They originate from places like the Balkans and areas that have very cold winters. Even though we did have the extended hot weather in the early winter, it wasn't really a problem for them. It's only a problem for stuff that blooms really early."
A sudden drop to subzero temperatures following the warm weather in early January would have severely stressed many plants, says George Good, a landscape expert and Cornell University professor of horticulture. But that didn't happen, notes Glenn Johnson, meteorologist for WHAM-TV (Channel 13). Johnson did, however, call the weather change "rather abrupt" and noted that temperatures did get as low as 2 degrees on Feb. 5.
Still, some flower buds will have died, predicts Good. "So we may see fewer blooms on flowering trees and shrubs this spring."
That's a concern for commercial fruit growers, who will harvest less fruit if too many flower buds die. February's bout of steady, high winds mixed with bitter cold hasn't helped, adds Bob King, an agriculture specialist at Monroe Community College. In some areas, he explains, the winds blew away the protective layer of snow. Without that insulating cover, flower buds on fruiting trees and brambles became more likely to dry out and freeze.
"I've had some reports of wind damage," says King, who also wonders what impact January's ice storm will have.
Also, because of December's high temperatures, the ground's not frozen, so water can't slowly percolate through the soil in a thaw. "It'll just run right through," says King, noting that this could lead to a drier spring.
Most bulbs and perennial flowers should come through the winter just fine, says Walt Nelson, horticulture program leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County.
Any flowers that bloomed prematurely may be lost, but as far as Nelson knows, only snowdrops actually popped. Any bulbs that sprouted, like daffodils and tulips, are now safely under an insulating blanket of snow.
Speaking of snow, heavy loads have left our landscapes sagging, says Jody Mills, a horticulturist with Broccolo Tree and Lawn Care in Henrietta. Freezing temperatures, meanwhile, have made tree and shrub branches brittle and easily damaged. Shaking off heavy snow, she warns, can cause branches to break or split.
"In most cases, once snow melts, the plant will gradually regain its shape," said Mills. "If sagging plants are a nuisance or are blocking drives or walks, excess snow can gently be lifted off with a shovel."
You can help plants hard hit by snow a little later. In late winter, Mills suggests renovating sheared shrubs to open up dense twig tips, which act like snow-catching baskets.
"With a little care and preparation," says Mills, "landscapes can tough out our harsh winter conditions and reward us with a season full of beauty."
Dianne E McConkey
Public Affairs
03/01/2007 |