When is the last frost date for the Tri Lakes Area?
Have you heard that it is safe to plant after Mother’s Day? While there is a chance that it might be true, the law of averages says that we can’t count on it. Every year is a different story, and some years we have seen the last frost in mid-May, and some we have seen a last frost in the beginning of June. Our average last frost date is May 26th. Generally, it’s a safe bet, but it doesn’t hurt to keep your frost cloth handy for another week or so just in case. Remember that your last frost will depend on where you are in the area. Monument Hill can experience colder temperatures than Downtown Monument or Palmer Lake.
Some of my favorite gardening advice ever given to me, is to wait to plant anything until the Scrub Oak leaves are as big as a squirrel’s ear. And while I have yet to pin down a squirrel to get an exact measurement, we can get the general idea. The beauty of it is that the Scrub Oak leaves emerge earlier or later depending on your microclimate and reflect an earlier or later last frost date. Now, it may not be a perfect science, but I think it’s worth paying attention to!
