Oklahoma Gardeners Scramble To Protect Plants In Hard Freeze

If you spent any time already this spring planting flowers or vegetables, you're going to want to dig out some blankets and towels.

A hard freeze is in the forecast.

Folks at Southwood Nursery are scrambling to get all the plants indoors before a mid-April freeze.

Gardening expert and TV personality Paul James had some great tips, but one thing he warned us about: if it gets below 27 or 28, it may not matter what you do.

He suggests any type of potted plant needs to go in the garage or indoors. Some of the varieties that could be in trouble tonight: warm season vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash. If plants have buds or are flowering, from roses, to azaleas, they may not make it either.

Paul recommends you put a heavy blanket over them, but there are no guarantees.

"The cool season crops - lettuce, spinach, carrots, onions - those will be ok," said Paul James gardening expert at Southwood Nursery.

"Although, it depends. If we do hit 26, or in low-lying areas maybe even colder or points to the north even colder - Bristow usually gets a little colder, Bartlesville certainly does - some of those crops may be goners."

And finally, Paul is hoping for wind. He says if it's blowing, that would stop the frost from settling.