Help the Plants! Spring cold expected tonight - should I cover?

[politicat]

Just when I thought we were past the last snow... There's a good chance for rainy snow or snowy rain tonight, and temps are supposed to be in the low thirties.

Here's the problem: I planted two lilacs, two jostaberries, and a dwarf apple tree this week, as well as laying in an asparagus bed. They're not established and they're just starting to leaf out.

Should I take blankets and plastic out and cover them all?

I'm not worried about my garden - they're raised beds (so warm), I've got seeds in, but nothing's above the soil yet, and if I lose a few peas and beans, I'm not going to cry. The tomatoes, peppers and more delicate plants are still inside, in peat pots, hardening off during the day and keeping warm at night.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. How cold?

Short of a frost, if the roots are sitting in irrigated soil they should be fine with anything above freezing. The worst is they'll pout for a while.

If freezing temps are expected, cover them.

[politicat]

3. Low thirties and some sort of precipitation.

They got watered yesterday and their indicators were still wet, so I didn't water them today (every other day for the first six weeks is how I normally establish a plant).

There's a good chance of frost.

I covered them. Better safe than having to chip 'em up.

[necso]

2. Yes. /nt