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Crime & Safety

Weather Alert: Freeze Watch Coming Thursday Night

The National Weather Service-Chicago has issued a "Freeze Watch," which means, basically, to cover your plants, if you can.

Guard your plants!

The National Weather Service-Chicago for good old 41.88°N, 88.32°W has called a Freeze Watch for late Thursday night through Friday morning. (That's April 5 and 6, for those who aren't close to a calendar.)

Temperatures are expected to fall into the upper 20s and low 30s by early Friday morning.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What does that mean?

"With the record warm March bringing vegetation growth far ahead of schedule, sensitive vegetation may be damaged or killed by the freezing temperatures," the NWS says.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

My sensitive spring fever is likely to be damaged or killed, as well.

Let's go to the all-caps, which is the letter case of choice for the NWS.

"THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION. TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT SENSITIVE VEGETATION ONCE FREEZING TEMPERATURES BECOME IMMINENT," it says.

What do you do for plants?

  • Well, you can cover them in a blanket. (We're not making this up.)
  • If they're in pots, you can bring them in or under some covering.
  • You can use pots or cardboard boxes as a "mini green house."

Here are links to a couple stories that offer advice on what you can do to save the foliage you love:

  • http://www.chron.com/life/gardening/article/How-do-I-protect-my-plants-from-a-freeze-1781833.php
  • http://askville.amazon.com/protect-young-plants-unexpected-freeze-coming/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=1648731
  • http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/gardening-how-to/protect-plants-in-freeze.htm
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