When Spring Teases: A Past Presidents Weather Watch

Posted in: News

Having seen their share of unpredictable New England springs, a few MNLA Past Presidents offer a friendly heads-up for 2026—from out in the pasture.

Drawing on both experience and recent weather data, they highlight the risks of early warm spells followed by freezing temperatures—and what that pattern could mean for plant health and customer satisfaction this season.

Spring “False Start” Alert for the Nursery & Landscape Industry

Massachusetts spring weather is notoriously unpredictable. As the forecast above illustrates, rapid swings from snow and freezing nights to 60°+ daytime temperatures can occur within a matter of days. These “false starts” — early warm spells followed by hard freezes — pose significant risk to nursery and landscape operations.

Why This Matters

When temperatures spike early, plants may:

Break dormancy prematurely
Push tender new growth
Increase sap flow and bud swell

If a hard freeze follows, that new growth is especially vulnerable to:

Bud kill and dieback
Bark splitting and cambium damage
Reduced flowering and overall plant vigor

Higher Risk for Southern-Grown Stock

Nursery stock shipped in from warmer states is at elevated risk. Plants acclimated to southern climates may:

Be further advanced physiologically
Lack full cold hardiness
Have been forced under protected growing conditions

Once exposed to New England’s fluctuating spring temperatures, these plants can experience significant cold injury.

Proactive Steps to Reduce Losses

Delay early installations when possible during volatile forecast windows.
Harden off southern-grown material gradually before full exposure.
Use frost protection measures (row covers, frost blankets, hoop houses, wind protection).
Monitor soil temperatures, not just air temperatures.
Stage deliveries strategically to avoid holding sensitive stock outdoors during freeze events.
Communicate with customers about weather-related installation delays and plant performance expectations.

Trusted Weather & Freeze Resources

National Weather Service – Forecasts & frost advisories
UMass Extension – Landscape & nursery crop updates
NOAA Climate Prediction Center – Seasonal outlooks & climate trends
Northeast Regional Climate Center – Growing degree days & freeze maps

Bottom line

As always, the weather will do what it will. But a little early-season awareness can go a long way in protecting plant material—and customer confidence. From our vantage point out in the pasture, we encourage members to keep an eye on forecasts, communicate with customers, and be prepared should spring decide to show both its warm and frosty sides.

A special thank you to Mark Ahronian, MCH; Chris Kennedy, MCH; and Peter Mezitt, MCH for sharing their observations, emails, and text messages that helped shape this heads-up for members. Even from out in the pasture, these Past Presidents continue to look out for MNLA and the Green Industry. And while they may not have official weather instruments, their “pasture forecasting” skills have proven surprisingly reliable over the years

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