Question
Hello Tom,
 I am hoping you can help me with a potential problem. I have a big planter that is full of perennials of all sorts. We live in ND, so we covered the planter with bags of leaves. The snow and ice is just leaving. I looked under the bags to see how my plants are doing and Wow they are sprouting a LOT. The problem is that today it is suppose to be 60 degrees. This weekend it is suppose to only get to high of 40 with a low of 20. Question: Do I leave the bags on until the night time is not so cold? Do I take off the bags and then cover them with blankets at night? Or take off the bags and let them fend for themselves? Thanks so very much.

Answer
Hi Debbie,
Thanx for your question.  Take the bags off and just give the containers a good mulching of the leaves so that the sprouts can grow through.  This is mid-April and I know you probably have your last frost about mid-May.  Your perennials should be fine.  Can you tell me what you have so I can give you a difinitive answer?  Also, if you keep the containers out of the cold north wind, that will help the plants stave off a cold spell too.  I hope this helps.

Tom