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With the warm temperatures, some are noticing signs of life in their flower gardens already. KSMU's Benjamin Fry spoke with a flower expert about protecting premature flowers if the cold returns.
The past couple of days have felt like spring in the Ozarks, and some flowers have started to pop out of the ground.
But with the true start of spring over a month away, the possible return of subfreezing temperatures could have some gardeners worrying.
Workers at Wickman's Garden Village in Springfield are already preparing for the spring planting season.
Greenhouse manager Shirley Anderson says the common flowers that like to come up first are hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips.
She says the best way to protect them is to make sure the bulbs or seed are put into the ground correctly.
"By planting at the proper depth, that will help. They need to be deep enough that they don't come up too early. You can apply mulch this time of year, if need be. That will protect them and delay growth on them," Anderson said.
Anderson says covering sprouts with plastic or other material doesn't work because that doesn't affect the temperature of the soil.
She also advises against digging up bulbs and transplanting them.
"Many times you will be surprised how much cold they will tolerate," Anderson said.
By nature, perennials such as daffodils and tulips are hardier than annuals.
And if a plant has already bloomed, the flower is much weaker to the elements than the sprout.
"The flower's petals aren't going to tolerate as much cold as the foliage if it's just the foliage up," Anderson said.
When planting most annuals, Anderson says it's best to wait until late April or early May to minimize the risk of a late frost.
As for perennials, those are typically planted in the fall.
For KSMU News, I'm Benjamin Fry.
