Frost advisories vanish with the end of growing season

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The end of growing season and the start of morning frost may impact your plants soon, but there may not be any frost advisories to alert you.

We’re at that point in the year where the grass may be a bit crunchy in the morning, you wake up wanting an extra blanket, then end up sweating by the afternoon because of the temperature changes. It’s an inconvenience for people but can be detrimental for plants.

You’ll notice it on your morning run or getting the kids on the school bus, there’s a chill in the air from the dew points dropping overnight. While it may mean an extra layer of clothing early in the day, it’s important to bundle up your garden too.

Chris Graziano, the Owner of Graziano Gardens in East Longmeadow, shared with Western Mass News that not all plants are built to withstand the morning chill. “If you have an old blanket or sheet, you could put it over the top of mums or cabbage and kale… Any tropical plants should be brought in, anything that’s gonna die at 32 degrees.” However, anything with roots should be good to grow. “Trees and shrubs are fine right now because all the action is in the roots.” Graziano added.

The problem with frost, though, is figuring out which days it plans to show up. The end of growing season marks the end of frost advisories. For Berkshire, Franklin, And Western Hampshire Counties, the last day of growing season is October 1.

“If there’s a risk for frost after October 1 in those locations, a frost advisory would not be issued.” Our First Alert Meteorologist Liam Murphy told us. The same goes for eastern Hampshire and Hampden counties. Except, growing season is over on October 11 meaning frost advisories will be issued if there is a risk between now and then.

The number one concern when it comes to frost, protect those plants if you plan to keep them alive throughout the winter. For those that live in eastern Hampshire and Hampden counties who want to know about frost advisories, or for any of you who just want to check out what the temps or dew points will be throughout the day, download our first alert weather app for all the details.