it's cold! The local weather forecaster gave us at least a week's notice that temperatures would be below freezing for several days. Wind chill will be near zero, but now we're waiting to see if we'll get a mix of snow, freezing rain, or sleet. Since most of us are indoors, what can gardeners do?
First, make sure there are no drips from the pipe. Pipes always burst when it gets this cold. It is installed on the outside wall and connected to the outside faucet. Yes, I put a lid on the outdoor faucet. I usually leave them covered all winter. Make sure the hose and hose bib are also removed. If you have an irrigation system, turn it off. When water in a rain barrel freezes, it expands. You may need to check your barrel for cracks after this cold snap.
If you have a pet, please bring it with you or keep it indoors. If you are feeding a feral cat, keep the water warm and feed a little more frequently. If you provide a tote bag with a straw, they will be happy. If your animal has a place out of the wind, you can purchase a heating pad for your pet. A few old blankets are also appreciated by them.
For humans, if we need to go outside or work, we layer up. The last day I worked, I had warm underwear and socks, a polo shirt, a sweatshirt, and a Carhartt jacket. Complete the ensemble with fleece-lined gloves, a scarf, stockings and a cap. Other colleagues wore insulated coveralls. Warm up your body as often as possible. Hot chocolate or coffee works well.
We all came together to protect plants that would be damaged by freezing temperatures. Snapdragons, pansies, kale and mustard all thrive through the winter. However, none of the regions have temperatures below 25 degrees. Most of those plants had frost cloths placed on them that could keep the temperature below them 5 to 10 degrees higher. The container was covered with a plant blanket. The plant blanket is a little thicker and has a drawstring to keep it securely attached to the container.
While we were preparing our homes for the cold snap, we should have prepared our gardens as well. All plants needed to be watered thoroughly before turning off the irrigation and turning off the faucet. Wind causes plants to transpire, or release water from their leaves more quickly. As I wrote earlier, using a frost cloth will make it warmer by about 5 to 10 degrees. The product's frost blanket is a thick material that keeps plants 15 degrees warmer than the air temperature.
Covering your vegetable and herb beds will help keep your plants warm. When gardeners think about arranging beds for various herbs and vegetables, they need to consider how winter winds will hit the garden.
If there's freezing rain or sleet and the bag of ice melts, sand or regular cat litter can help provide traction for cars and walkers. Another small job you need to do is fill your bird feeder with water. Alternatively, move the bird food onto the deck and scatter it for the birds. Fill the bird bath with hot water as well.
This week would be a good time to check out the seed catalogs that arrive, take stock of the seeds you already have, and daydream about how you might change up your garden flower beds.
I'm going to start taking care of houseplants from now on. Stay warm and keep gardening!
Joyce Block has been Johnson County's Master Gardener for 17 years. She gardens at work and in Alvarado.
