Weather warning Feb 18 (northern Ireland)

Hi all. I hope you are well and thanks for taking the time to read my first post!
There is currently a warning of frost and maybe snow over the next week or two.
I have bare root whitethorn and lots (and lots) of bulbs to get planted. Should I wait till the frost has gone or should I take tomorrow off work and get it done before the cold snap comes?
Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum Mick. I think it would be impossible to try planting anything at the moment while the ground is frozen solid, so I would leave that until the sun comes out again.
If I was worried about the bare root plants, I would just heel them in to a bag of compost for now. Roll on Spring!

 

Ideally try and keep your plants/bulbs somewhere cold but not frozen solid! What you don't want is for the bare rooted plants to start into growth too much and likewise the bulbs to start growing. Even if the bulbs do start to show life it's no disaster, just more difficult to plant them as it's easier to damage the growing points.

 

Welcome to the forum Mick

I'd hang on like Tetters says as the weather is going to be dire. A week or twos delay won't make much difference. As has already been said keep the bulbs somewhere cool. I've kept mine in the cupboard under the stairs before now as it's cooler and darker in there!

 

Thanks guys. At the moment the ground is just lovely for planting. I got lots of stuff in over the weekend. But just couldn't get it all done . I think I'll take tomorrow off and get them in the ground. I have lovely old dirty straw (from a horse's stables) and I'll cover the hedge with that. I bought the bulbs a long time ago so they are already showing signs. I won't worry too much bout them. Thanks for the help.

 

Hi Mick , welcome to Gardeners Corner



We could give better advice if you put up which part of the country you live in.

Where I live is a sheltered valley, we
have only had snow once in almost 10 years and only get 2/3 frosts a year so I would personally plant out any hardy stuff and and put a covering over the top.

I think that a lot of people are getting a little obsessed with what's going to happen this week. We have a low temp of -3 forecast for later in the week and only a hit or miss chance of snow.

 

Hi thanks KFF, just outside Newry. I think it will be fine once I put the hay over it. thanks for getting back guys!

 

I don`t have an obsession with a bit of cold weather @KFF , but would need a hammer and chisel to make holes in my Kent garden at the moment.....don`t really think the bulbs would do very well with these conditions.

 

That's why it's omportant to say whuch part of the country you're in @Tetters , our ground hasn't frozen over at all this Winnter

 

Lucky you - evidently it is blissfully warm in Newry too

 

....@KFF I can`t find which part of the country you are in ..???