February in Albuquerque can be a tricky time in the garden. Usually the weather is getting warmer, conditions are fairly dry, and a few spring plants are already beginning to poke our their heads. But occasionally we get a late frost or a streak of icy, windy weather that can wreak havoc on our landscape plants. Thankfully, this weather doesn't usually sneak up on us completely unawares, so we do have time to protect the most tender plants.

Wrap up those evergreens, for starters. We can experience pretty violent winds on our side of the mountain. Wrap a length of burlap around evergreen shrubs and small trees to protect them from the icy blasts. If ice does settle on bushes or deciduous plants just beginning to leaf out, leave it be. Knocking it off can cause worse damage than the ice will.

 

Keep a bale of straw handy for a quick protective mulch. Spread the straw over new strawberry plants, newly planted annuals or less hardy perennials that are just sending out their stems. The straw provides insulation and protection from the cold, plus it's simple enough to remove once the weather begins to warm.

 

Hold off on planting tender plants, including summer vegetables, until late spring. Even if today is warm, the nights are still cold for these plants and even a short cold snap can kill them. If you are running out of room for the seedlings inside, consider installing a cold frame or miniature greenhouse to keep them in.