Comments on: Why rain gauges break and plants heave

By: What’s the Difference Between a Frost and a Freeze? — Cold Climate Gardening

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:38:35 +0000

[...] need to empty and wash the bird bath and bring it in. Oh, and I better make sure the rain gauge is empty. What’s on your must-do [...]

By: jeff-nhn

jeff-nhn — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:49:44 +0000

I don’t believe rain gauges are the issue here. I believe it is the up and down temperatures we experience almost every year now. I also looked for heaving plants and was unable to find any. I’m hoping our temperatures get back to normal. Normal temperatures (even when cold) are much better than these bitterly cold days followed by warmer than normal days that are 20 – 40 degrees above normal.

By: debra

debra — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:44:48 +0000

hey there Kathy. In my experience, Heucheras have a tendency to heave everywhere, freeze or not! What’s up with those plants? Do they have higher aspirations than other perennials?
Can you believe we have had frost on the windshields every morning this week, here in Zone 10? I think it was warmer in CCG land than SoCal this week! Brrr.
Enjoy the sunshine, and your promise of spring,
xoxo deb

By: Susy

Susy — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:41:00 +0000

I only every bought one rain gauge and that’s what happened to it. I’ll have to get another one soon though.

By: Mr. McGregor's Daughter

Mr. McGregor's Daughter — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:50:25 +0000

Another good reason to invest in one of those self-draining gauges. I already was thinking about 1 because I don’t like the idea of standing water in the summer (hello, mosquitoes!). Mulching Heucheras is a tricky thing. Too much & you kill them, not enough & they heave themselves out. Why can’t it just stay below 32 degrees all winter?

By: commonweeder

commonweeder — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:59:56 +0000

The durability of rain gauges is a real problem. Ours was destroyed by a freak and violent hail storm. I haven’t gotten around to replacing it, but I think your idea of getting inexpensive ones – easily replaced – is a good one.

By: eliz

eliz — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:46:57 +0000

Yes, heuchera heave, the bane of my existence. Oh and also the death of all expensive heucheras that are more interesting-looking than Palace Purple.

By: dlyn

dlyn — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:36:45 +0000

Weren’t we just talking about broken rain guages a couple weeks ago? I actually retrived mine in time this year. We still have good snow cover out here, but it won’t last if this warm weather keeps up. Great post Kathy!

By: Ann Travers

Ann Travers — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:03:32 +0000

Hi Kathy.
Great post here. Very informative and I’ll keep a close eye on the primroses my father gave me this summer when they moved from their home to a retirement community. Thanks!
Ann