
In fact, there have already been five hard freezes in Emporia since April 1 and another freeze is expected Sunday night as temperatures bottom out at 25 degrees. Lyon County Extension horticulturist Travis Carmichael says conditions like this -- where high temperatures climb well above freezing, only to see lows in the upper teens to mid-20s -- can cause shock for plants.
Carmichael says woody plants may suffer some damage for several years, while herbaceous plants typically bounce back well although they may not grow to their normal sizes. Fruit trees may see blooms knocked off or set back for several weeks, depending on their location.
Carmichael suggests blanketing your plants or covering them with five-gallon buckets. Avoid plastics because that can transfer the cold temperatures to the plant.
The good news is there may not be another hard freeze for quite some time. After Sunday night, low temperatures will stay anywhere from the upper 30s to the mid-40s for the rest of the week.