How To Save Your Plants From Irene

Here are some tips on how to protect your plants this weekend from Kimberly Sevilla at Greenpoint's Rose Red & Lavender:



- Secure your plants. For those of you with balconies, it may be a good idea to put your lighter plants and plastic furniture inside. With 50 to 100mph winds, anything light that that is left on a balcony will be blown away. Don't worry about the plants that are in big heavy pots, if you have trouble moving them then they are probably fine. Put everything as close to the building as you can. The same rules apply to roof top gardens as well.

- Remove the covers from your gazebos and take down any umbrellas and store in a safe place.

- Remove any window boxes that are hanging on railings and put them inside or on the ground.

- Take down any hanging baskets and put them inside.

- Stake and tie plants in your garden. Try to secure your plants as best as you can but remember that they may not survive the storm. Take the time to harvest any vegetables that are ripe. Harvest any tomatoes that are close to maturity. Pick the large green ones too.

- Don't forget to cut some flowers and bring them inside. Chances are they won't be so nice after Irene rolls through.

- If you have any garden ornaments, plastic lawn furniture, chimes, empty pots, garden tools, etc. outside, secure them and take them inside. They will be blown away.

Good luck and stay dry!