It’s hard not to notice the nice weather, bringing a very early spring to Long Island. With the sun shining and a nice breeze residents aren’t the only ones coming outside to enjoy the higher temperatures – this warm weather has also tricked flowers, trees and other plants into coming into bloom a month or two ahead of time.
With temperatures about 12 degrees higher than they usually are this time of year, the plants are confused about when they need to come into bloom. With the weather predicted to stay this way in the upcoming days the plants should really start coming back out of winter hibernation.
Milena Basso of in New Hyde Park says that this early warm weather has its pros and cons.
“It’s good in the sense that plants like the cherry blossom are starting to bloom, but it’s bad in the sense that no one wants to buy a blooming tree,” she said, adding that with early weather people might be tempted to plant vegetables and herbs.
“If people plant vegetables now, and the weather cools down, then the vegetables will get a frost and won’t grow right.”
She suggested residents hold off until Memorial Day weekend to plant herbs and vegetables, but this weather now is good for planting evergreens, raking, and “taking care of the soil.”
If people are eager to plant something this weekend, Milena recommends pansies “since they tend to like the cooler weather.”
