It just comes down to conditions. I had a look at last year's weather notes for April. There was only 2 days in the first 18 that we didn't have a frost, and that was along with hail and sleet etc as well. Then more again in the last week, with more hail and snow, then more frosts into May. The later frosts were only lightweight - nothing more than a 0 or minus 1, whereas the April ones were more normal minus 3s and 4s etc. The usual wind and rain too of course. It just wasn't great for any new growth thriving well, which is what had happened. They both recovered, but it set them back, as I said earlier. April is always a difficult month here. Any sunny days can be very pleasant, but we can also get frost, snow and ice, as well as stormy weather, which is why we have to be cautious with any planting out at that time, as the ground is colder/wetter for longer.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'll agree with @Fairygirl about spring up here last year. Some lovely T-shirt weather in March, and then part of the garden was frozen solid for two weeks in April. I lost many flower buds off a Magnolia, a Hydrangea, and a Rhodie was wiped out for all flowers that year.
I gave up on Camellias for that reason @Balgay.Hill. I love them, but every year they got knackered just as they flowered. If it wasn't the rough weather that destroyed the flowers [ the normal scenario] it was the frosts, snow or worse, even when planted in the right spot.
The 'ordinary' hydrangeas got hit, but the oak leaf ones were fine. Mainly because I don't prune them
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm usually ok @Fairygirl as my garden is West and South facing, so i don't get the early morning sun from the East. The weather is becoming really weird these days, so who knows what the future holds.
Indeed @Balgay.Hill, but I won't be changing much in my garden any time soon. Easy to get caught out thinking it's going to be milder and drier. I could probably find a couple of sites in this garden for a Camellia, but to be honest, they need something else growing through them or around them as they're pretty dull for 11 months of the year. More expense
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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There was only 2 days in the first 18 that we didn't have a frost, and that was along with hail and sleet etc as well. Then more again in the last week, with more hail and snow, then more frosts into May. The later frosts were only lightweight - nothing more than a 0 or minus 1, whereas the April ones were more normal minus 3s and 4s etc. The usual wind and rain too of course.
It just wasn't great for any new growth thriving well, which is what had happened. They both recovered, but it set them back, as I said earlier.
April is always a difficult month here. Any sunny days can be very pleasant, but we can also get frost, snow and ice, as well as stormy weather, which is why we have to be cautious with any planting out at that time, as the ground is colder/wetter for longer.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The 'ordinary' hydrangeas got hit, but the oak leaf ones were fine. Mainly because I don't prune them
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I could probably find a couple of sites in this garden for a Camellia, but to be honest, they need something else growing through them or around them as they're pretty dull for 11 months of the year. More expense
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...