METAIRIE, La. (WVUE) – Gardeners across the New Orleans area prepared Sunday (Nov. 9) for the first frost of the season, after Fox 8 meteorologists issued a First Alert for the incoming Arctic blast.
Meteorologist Hannah Gard forecasts a nearly 30-degree temperature drop for parts of the area come Monday morning. She says the temperature will continue to drop into Tuesday, bringing a freezing threat to inland areas.
Sondra Berger spent her Sunday morning browsing blooms at Perino’s Garden Center in Metairie. She said she knows a cold snap is coming, but that her preparations aren’t pressing.
“We just let the pipes break or whatever happens. The plants die and we repair the damage after,” Berger said.
Plant protection recommendations
Experts recommend bringing tender plants indoors, as hibiscus and pothos won’t survive the cold, windy weather. However, this season’s annuals — such as pansies, petunias, sweet alyssum and snap dragons — should be able to survive in frigid temperatures.
“A house plant, you really want to keep that probably above 45-50 degrees,” said Tucker Bantom of Perino’s Garden Center.
Bantom’s team spent the weekend pruning and protecting the center’s inventory of young citrus and indoor plants.
“Tidy them up, clean off any bad leaves, then bring them inside to protect them through this weather,” Bantom said.
Frost protection methods
Frost sheets are often the first items to sell out when an Arctic blast arrives. Bantom recommends covering outdoor plants to the ground and weighing the cover down to withstand forecasted 30 mph wind gusts.
“You can use sheets. Do not use plastic. Plastic will burn the plant,” Bantom said.
For areas north of Lake Pontchartrain, gardeners might want to add heat with a lamp.
“You’ve got to go old-fashion, because everything is LED now,” Bantom said. “So, you’ve got to go with some old stuff that throws heat off it. The old flood lights are really good.”
The weather is expected to warm again by Wednesday, with highs rising back into the mid-70s and climbing into next weekend.
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