April...finally safely frost free?

I still have my pots upturned on their saucer bases....is it OK now to revert the saucers to their usual positions, i.e. no danger of frost at night damaging roots now? (I realise this may be a guess but, probability factors?)

 

my rule here, is to wait until after "our" "Mothers Day, which is about Mid May.

 

We always say mid-May here too (west Wales) but in the last two years it's been OK about two weeks earlier (ie end of April).

 

We had a frost here the last two nights. What's in the pots?

 

A frost now is not likely to be a deep one. Just a chill from the air.
Ground is warming up, so not likely to do lasting damage - maybe just to foliage

 

I'm a chancer too, I'd say go for it - I've popped everything outside now (fingers crossed!)

 

So, is it the leaves that suffer more from frost rather than the roots? I recall being told to upturn pots on their saucers during winter and where frost conditions still prevail; in order to raise the plant off the ground, to protect the roots. I have never protected leaves from frost....only bubblewrapping the outside of the pot for some delicate plants, i.e. young fuschia and patio rose and bringing them to a secluded corner of the garden. (That said, the young fuschia rarely survives!)

 

Generally at this time of year yes, unless we have really severe weather. During the winter most plants in containers need protection especially if we have heavy rain followed by freezing weather as if the pots are waterlogged, the water freezes (and expands at 4degrees) and it's that action which damages the roots (and often the pot too as there's more volume in the pot than there should be so the pot cracks). Hence plants in the open ground have a better chance of survival in general. Obviously young plants need nursing and you also have to consider hardiness.

 

I've got some fleece at the ready just on case a frost is expected, but maybe give it another week or two? I've started planting the hardier stuff out now

 

I assumed larger plants would not need protecting. I have a 3 ' Mexican Orange plant (in a very big terracotta container). I was just looking up the cause of this plant having decreased foliage and the stems looking somewhat mottled i.e. green and then grey woody in parts.....seems to possibly be due to foliage dieback from cold weather!

I thought larger plants were established and therefore somewhat immune to the severity of weather....

 

Choisya , Mexican orange can suffer a little frost / wind burn . A quick prune of the damaged parts will bring it back to prime condition ! Just did mine on Friday.