The Gardens on Spring Creek

  Preparing for the First Freeze by The Gardens on Spring Creek Horticulture Team From the high 90s to below freezing in one week, Colorado weather always keeps gardeners on their toes.   Here are some tips from the horticulture team at The Gardens on Spring Creek on how to prepare your garden for the first freeze of the season. Check Your Zone:   As you look to the forecast and decide what plants to protect, check what plants have been matched to your site in terms of hardiness. The Gardens on Spring Creek sit at a USDA Hardiness Zone 5b, but you might be in a different zone or microclimate.   Established perennials, grasses, trees and shrubs that are appropriately hardy will withstand a freeze.   They may lose their leaves or go dormant, but you should have to be concerned about plant loss. Water Well:   For newer perennial plantings, be sure to water your plants well the day before an expected freeze.   Cold stress and drought stress damage plants on a cellular level in a s