Q: With unseasonal weather, buds form on my peonies, and bulbs start to poke through the ground. Is there anything I should do?
A: Our gardens are happier when they have a nice snowy blanket to cover them. Snow actually works as an insulating blanket to protect the plants from fluctuating temperatures. No snow and some intermittent ‘warmer’ sunny days can actually confuse plants to thinking spring is here. The best answer I can give you is to let nature take its course. If your garden has a layer of mulch then it already has a light blanket protecting it. In some cases, this may toughen up the plant and in others, like the budding peony, a hard cold snap may nip the buds and prevent them from opening in the spring.