Extension Educator Advises Against Early Spring Planting

Despite the spring and summer-like temperatures, many experts are urging those who want a head start on planting season to wait.

With temperatures in the 70s, and the forecast calling for more warm weather, Muskingum County Extension Educator Mark Mechling said those with a green thumb should wait a little longer before they plant those prized petunias in the ground.

"It’s still the middle of March. It looks like the weather is going to continue to be warm for another week or so but the possibility or probability that we’ll continue this 70 degree weather right into spring or summer is not very likely," said Mechling.

If you have already have flowers or crops in the ground; don’t worry.  Mechling said you’ll want to cover those plants; especially when temperatures fall into the thirties.

"They could try to protect them by covering them but quite honestly that’s a long time to be doing that, so it would be much better just to hold off, and not plant those plants just yet; just resist the urge to get those planted yet," Mechling added.

If you can’t fight off the urge to plant, Mechling said that trees and shrubs can be planted during the first week in April.