Q: I covered my hydrangeas and fig bush to protect them from the cold in February. Is this overkill? When should I take off the plastic?

A: I think “overkill” is correct. The only time these plants need to be covered is when temperatures threaten to go below 20 degrees or so. They should be uncovered immediately when night temperatures look to be higher than 20 degrees. They are perfectly hardy with no covering in most winters.

Sitting under the bags for weeks at a time means they will get hot on sunny days and will either die from the heat inside or will be made so tender that temperatures below 32 will severely harm them.

Uncover them now!