The recent warm weather has had many residents playing in the dirt this spring. With the predicted frost for areas east of Atlanta tonight, homeowners should protect their plants from the frost and colder weather.

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a frost advisory overnight, which is in effect from 2-10 a.m. Thursday. With temperatures in the mid 30s, susceptible plants may be damaged or killed if left uncovered or unprotected.

This comes on the heels of the red flag warning that expires at 7 p.m. today. High fire danger conditions exist for north and central Georgia due to low relative humidity values.

The experts at Pike Nurseries take the guesswork out of gardening and advise gardeners to adhere to the following guidelines to help keep their plants healthy throughout the weekend’s changing temperatures:

TIPS FROM PIKE NURSERIES:

•  Cover plants and flowers with frost cloth or a sheet. (Garden frost cloths can be found at Pike Nurseries locations).
• Remove the frost cloth first in the morning; otherwise, the sun will trap in heat and cause more damage.
• Water, water, water!  Water the garden and containers before a hard freeze and again after the freeze. The added moisture will allow the plants to tolerate the cold and bounce back to life.
• Don’t worry if plants are droopy the day after a deep freeze. Give them time and they’ll usually spring back.
• Adding a layer of mulch to gardens helps regulate the temperature and keep plants moist. Cover gardens with a 1-2 inch layer of mulch.
• Plants in containers can be grouped closely together on a porch or patio, or moved to a protected area.