OMG, after having a blizzard and then another massive snow storm last month, I have some amazing news and an important question for you all.
Before the blizzard, I covered my bleeding hearts (which had begun to show new growth above ground) with about 6 inches of pine needles, and then placed a plastic bell over them. Temps were due to drop WAAAAYYYY below freezing, and I didn't want the new growth to get frozen dead. After the storms, everything was completely covered in snow and I couldn't even see the tops of the bells.
Today, temps are nicely up in the 50's and a lot of that snow is melted. So I removed the bells and pulled back the pine needles and OMG! My bleeding hearts have continued to sprout new growth and it's now about 5 inches tall! Looking very juicy, healthy and so beautiful!
So that's the wonderful news. Now the question is, if temps drop again, should I cover them with the bells? We're due for some 31F nights here and there over the coming weeks, but there are no frost warnings. I'm confused as to when I need to leave them alone and when I need to step in. And forgive my ignorance, but I really don't understand what constitutes a frost or a frost warning. I would be very grateful if someone could define that for me.
Thanks in advance.