Killer freeze in KC Tuesday night: Some plants are 'probably going to be toast'

The prospect of a killer freeze for the second night in a row might have gardeners worried. But whether those worries are justified depends on the plants.

"The silver lining in this is that March was a relatively cool month, and plants of all types have not really developed far along," said Dennis Patton, horticulture agent for the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension office. "The tighter the bud, or the less developed the growth is, the more cold they will tolerate."

That's not good news for, say, full-flowering apricots. But peaches and apples should be OK.

"Things that are in full bloom, like early magnolias, are probably going to be toast," Patton said. "They will turn brown and droopy."

Flowering daffodils could also be vulnerable, but plants that haven't emerged yet will be fine.

But it's spring in Kansas City, and nobody should be terribly surprised by cold weather in early April.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill is for an overnight low Tuesday and Wednesday in the 20s for the area generally south of the Missouri River and in the teens for the area generally north and west of the river.

Specifically, the forecast low for Kansas City International Airport is 19 degrees. For Wheeler downtown and New Century Aircenter in Olathe it is 21 degrees.

The area low here overnight Monday was 17 degrees.

If March had been unusually warm, with sustained temperatures in the 70s, this freeze could have been devastating.

The recent precipitation also helps insulate the soil and plant cells.

In general, gardening sites offer a few tips:

▪ Bring tender plants in containers inside.

▪ Consider covering plants with an inverted bucket or flower pot or mulch.

▪ Larger plants can be covered in fabric such as old bed sheets or burlap. Plastic will not retain heat. Make sure the cover extends to the soil.

▪ Remove fabric covering in the morning before condensation weighs down the plant.

This story was originally published April 3, 2018 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Killer freeze in KC Tuesday night: Some plants are 'probably going to be toast'."