Don't Let the Early Warm Weather Fool Your Garden

Mid-70's temperatures in March have put flowers and trees into full bloom - but one local gardening expert says that you shouldn't let the warm weather change your normal gardening routine.

Prepare your garden now as you normally would and hold off on planting vegetables and annual flowers until at least the middle of April, says Ray, manager of in Lynbrook.

"Things are blooming because of the warm weather last week, but it's going to set it back with the coldness that we've got this week and it's still going to be cold at nights regardless," he said.

Although it's been as hot as 70 degrees in March, temperatures are expected to average in the mid-50's this week, according to the National Weather Service.

Ray said that you can plant flowers such as pansies and flats now because they like the cold, but people should hold off on planting vegetables and annual flowers such as marigolds.

"That all gets done the way its been done for years and years," he said.

Some other tips: Prepare your garden now with "organic soils and some cow maneuver," and start preparing your vegetable gardens now as you normally would.

"For soil preparation, flower bed preparation, vegetable bed preparation - middle of April, May are the key months," he said.