Town staff scrambled to cover weather-sensitive pansies. (Photo: Town of Addison)
You may have noticed the last couple of days that our Parks crews have been scrambling to cover the pansy flower beds around town. The Parks department staff covered all pansy and ornamental kale seasonal color beds with over 9,000 square feet of cloth fabric to protect against the unbelievably frigid conditions we’ve been experiencing.
We follow the Dallas Arboretum’s lead when temperatures are expected to get into the teens, which has not happened in Addison for 12 years. Parks Director Slade Strickland tells me the key is to keep the soil moist before the cold weather moves in, as water around the roots acts as insulation. By adding the cloth on top, it helps moderate the soil and air temperature around the plant and roots by locking in the warmer temperature of the soil. According to Slade, this helps prevent a drastic temperature fluctuation inside the plant cells that are full of water.
Keep in mind that these are cool season annuals that are capable of surviving temperatures in the 20’s; however, when it drops below 20 for a prolonged period, the plants need some protection and a little help. We’re doing our best to help the pansies survive if the weather will just cooperate.
