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SANDY -- Sandy Rogers wasn't quite sure what she was looking for. She just knew she had to look for something.
"I can hardly wait," she said. "This winter weather has been on again, off again."
Rogers was visiting Wasatch Shadows Nursery in Sandy, looking for ideas to start planting her garden. The only problem is, so far, the weather hasn't really been letting her start digging.
"You get so excited when it's warm outside and your creativity gets going," said Rogers. "Then all of a sudden you get rained on and snowed on, and then that's it."
You get so excited when it's warm outside and your creativity gets going. Then all of a sudden you get rained on and snowed on, and then that's it.
–Sandy Rogers
She's not alone.
Loren Nielsen, who owns Wasatch Shadows, says he's been hearing it ever since the first warm day a few weeks ago.
"We're a little frustrated just like many of the homeowners are with the up and down pattern of the weather, but yeah, we're going into our prime season," he said.
Nielsen says now is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, as well as peas, radishes and potatoes. However, he says to wait a few weeks before planting warm-weather flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and peppers.
A good rule of thumb is to wait until Mother's Day to really get gardening.
I understand a lot of people are anxious to get going. But we could still get more cold weather and that would hurt any warm-weather plants you put in the ground.
–Loren Nielsen
"I understand a lot of people are anxious to get going," said Nielsen. "But we could still get more cold weather and that would hurt any warm-weather plants you put in the ground."
Nielsen also says the weather so far has been unusual -- adding to the anxiousness.
"One day it's 60 degrees and sunny and everybody thinks it's time to rock and roll," he said. "Then the next day it's high 30s or low 40s."
For those who may have already planted warm-weather plants, Nielsen says it's a good idea to try and keep them warm.
"You can use hot caps or a 5-gallon bucket or a trash can," he said. "Anything you can do to trap a little bit of that heat from the soil, as well as air temperature."
To be on the safe side though, Nielsen suggests just being patient for a few more weeks -- which is easier said than done for the most avid gardeners.
"I just can't wait to get nice weather," said Rogers. "Then bad weather, it kind of takes the excited energy away from it. I can't wait until the cold is gone."
Email: acabrero@ksl.com
