Spring Weather Teases Oklahoma Gardeners Before Freeze Sets In

This late freeze is creeping up on some gardeners who got an early start planting their flowers.

Many gardeners are hoping it stays cloudy like it is right now.

They said the clouds will help protect their plants when temperatures dip into the freezing zone.

When it comes to Mother Nature, you never know what you're going to get.

"We've kind of been figuring out over the years how to winterize things," gardener avid gardener Julie Mysse said.

Right now, she's buying tomatoes, peppers and herbs.

"We're not actually going to put this out until after the 15th."

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Gardeners explained the past few years have been a tease.

They said the weather has been so mild that it's throwing people off and many are lining their yards with flowers way too soon.

"People who've planted too early, in my opinion, probably ought to air on the side of caution and start covering things up," Southwood Landscape & Garden Center Stephen Smith said.

Smith recommended people wait until April 15th to plant flowers, and if playing it safe then hold off until the 20th just in case a late freeze is on the horizon.

"You just don't know around here," Smith said. "Mother Nature will throw you a curve ball it seems like and that's what we're getting."

To prepare for the dicey weather, employees at Southwood are busy moving tender plants and flowers inside.

Smith explained these are things like tomatoes and perennials.

"We can't lose it," he said. "We don't want to lose a sale eventually or if it gets nipped, we have to cut it back and then have to wait a couple three weeks. We won't have the room to put it."

Temperatures are expected to dip into the low 30s over the next few days.

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Smith said it's not a bad idea to cover them up.

"A blanket, a sheet, plastic is OK as long as you put some kind of support where the plastic is not physically touching the plant."

In case you were wondering about the azaleas in Muskogee or the peaches in Porter, organizers for those festivals say the cooler temperatures will not affect their product.