Northwest NJ here. Just bought a decent amount of native plant plugs to start getting rid of grass on my 2 acre plot. I picked up some sedges, black eyed susans, phlox, asters, purple cone flowers and more.
Plugs arrived yesterday in the 85 degree heat, were promptly unpacked and watered and look great. I’m worried about planting them in the ground because temps are dropping to 31 overnight next week.
Should I hold off or get them in the ground? Pic of the new terrace garden they’ll be calling home for tax.
by njstuntactivist
5 Comments
I think you are fine to plant, they are built to handle your climate.
They’ll be fine
The ground is the best place for them.
You can plant when it’s hot if you keep them well watered. But it’s definitely easier during cooler weather.
The only time I’m worried about native plants experiencing spring frost is when the plants are listed as annuals or if they thrive in warm weather, similar to tomatoes and hot peppers.
Like I got some native [Wild Kidney Beans](https://www.prairiemoon.com/phaseolus-polystachios-wild-kidney-bean) and they appear to be hot weather plants. If I have seedlings emerging by next week and they were planted, then I would give them a covering. Like a blanket of leaves or a tarp just until I wake up in the morning to remove it.