OTTUMWA — Did global warming taking its toll on your garden this spring?

As the debate rages on about global warming, no one really knows for sure if it caused the early warm-up followed by freezing temperatures experienced by Southern Iowans this spring.

Many saw the beautiful early flowers wither under a blanket of snow and frost.

Suzette Striegel, horticulturist for the Mahaska County Extension says, “The late frost this spring has meant less show this spring with many early flowering perennials as the blossoms could not take the temperature drop but the plants are more tolerant.”

Lynn Schulte, horticulture program assistant at Wapello County Extension adds, “While the freezing temperatures may have damaged or destroyed the emerging new growth, the roots and crowns of established perennials should still be alive. It is important to remember that this is not at all unusual for Iowa.”

“My spring flowers didn’t do well at all,” says Ina Hartman of Ottumwa. “They started to come up in January when it was warm and then again as spring started, only to be frozen and fizzle out.”

Schulte says, “Few plants should suffer more than a temporary setback. Some foliage may look tough and we have lost some of spring’s beautiful flower show, but the plants should recover.

“Perennials planted within the last year are most at risk of serious damage,” she says. “The damaged perennials should send up a second flush of growth in a few weeks. Good care this summer should help the perennials recover.”

In mid-spring Hartman remarked that “the later flowers like peonies and iris are doing well.”

“Unfortunately (the late frost) also means less fruit,” Striegel says. “Several varieties of fruit trees were blooming at the late frost, later blooming varieties were unharmed.”

Hartman says that her apple trees did not have blossoms and that her shrubs and lilacs did not bloom.

According to Schulte, trees and shrubs have the ability to leaf out again if the initial growth is damaged or destroyed. “Healthy, well established trees and shrubs should not be greatly harmed and will produce additional growth within a few weeks,” she says. “Good care during the remainder of the year, such as watering during dry periods, should aid the recovery of trees and shrubs planted within the past three to five years.”

Timely rains helped newly planted trees and plants. Most plants need one inch of rain a week, Striegel says.

“I have noticed that we have a lot of hummingbirds this spring,” Hartman adds. “Last year we didn’t have hummingbirds at our feeders until late summer.”

“While this year’s flower display may be poor, we must just be patient to wait for the splendor next spring will bring,” Schulte says.