Your spring flowers look as happy as kids on the first day of vacation… and then, you see the weather forecast: SNOW.
Ugh.
The good news is…
Spring flowering bulbs — like tulips and daffodils (pictured below) — are surprisingly resilient. Snow can be a good insulator for plants. And yes, I know we need the water.
So, if you’re wondering, “Will snow kill spring flowers, like tulips?”, the good news is it’s extremely unlikely.
(Phew, right?)
The bad news is…
Heavy spring snows can make a mess of tulips and daffodils that have started flowering.
Depending on how much snow you get, it can weigh down, smoosh or break your flowers, ending your pretty blooms for this year.
Temperatures can be an issue too
Cold temperatures (like a hard freeze) can ruin the blooms on some spring flowers, including the buds that haven’t quite opened yet.
I want my flower blooms to last as long as they can
That’s why I prefer to protect some of my spring flowers that are blooming — or are just about to bloom.
When my tulips or daffodils are blooming and there’s more than a dusting of snow in the forecast, I choose to cover them with tall buckets, empty flowerpots, frost tents, etc.
I do this so they don’t get crushed by the snow.
That way, I still have flower blooms when the snow is over.
I keep my eye on the low temperatures too
Some spring flowers are more sensitive than others to freezing temperatures.
In my garden, allium and tulips tend to be the most sensitive. You can see an example of allium below.
I’ve had enough flower buds (the blooms that haven’t opened yet) get dinged by hard freezes in the spring that I like to protect them.
When I see nighttime temperatures dipping and dancing into the mid-20s (or below) in the forecast, I’ll cover my allium and tulips — focusing on the ones that are blooming and the ones that have flower buds.
I’ve never gotten a freeze or hard frost that’s killed my spring plants. Rather, I just don’t get flower blooms that year. I have to wait until next year.
So, when I’m covering my spring flowers, I’m trying to protect that season’s blooms.
Do you have to cover your spring flowers when snow is coming?
Nope! Depending on your snowfall and how naturally protected your flowers are, they may be just fine. It’s all a matter of how proactive you want to be.
I don’t worry about my tulips when they’re just leaves
If my tulips are coming up and they only have leaves (but no buds or blooms yet), I don’t cover them.
Personally, I also don’t worry about the early spring bloomers, like crocuses below. Those lil’ dudes are tough!
Related topics that may interest you:
- “What do I do with tulips after they’ve flowered?”
- 6 ways to protect your flowers from frosts and freezes
- Tips to make your spring flowers look prettier: spring bulb garden design!
