Antsy Mainers grow weary of prolonged cold temperatures

PORTLAND – After six consecutive months of below-normal temperatures, golfers, gardeners and landscapers are eager for warmer weather – even if they have to leave Maine to find it.

Dick Marsh, who has been hoping to get out on the golf course, is heading to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a respite from the cold. “At least I can play some golf there,” said the Portland insurance executive.

Paul Tukey, who is host of a TV show and publishes a magazine for gardeners called People, Places & Plants, said April is traditionally the second-biggest month for the garden-center industry, but virtually no one is buying plants or shrubs yet.

“People are freaking out,” Tukey said. “We’re three weeks behind schedule. Last year by now we had daffodils in the ground. We were able to dig in the soil. We didn’t even have a winter last year, and this year people are really antsy.”

Tukey said it’s been so cold that there is still deep frost in the ground, preventing digging in the soil. “Normally by now we’d be planting peas, onions, some perennials, and we could be at a garden center buying trees, shrubs and bare-root roses.”

September was the last month that temperatures were above normal, said WMTW meteorologist Russ Murley.

John Cannon, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the cold weather – which included snow last week – feels worse because “we’ve had so many warm springs recently.”

In fact, it’s been about a decade since it was this cold this far into spring. Portland should be averaging daily highs of at least 50 degrees, but “we’ve only had three days this month with a high of 40 or above,” Cannon said. “We’ve had highs in the 20s and 30s, so that’s pretty brutal.”

Scarborough landscaper Al Lappin has been stymied by the weather, but was able to get out Thursday to spread some bark mulch at a restaurant near the Maine Mall.

“It feels wonderful to get out,” he said. “It’s been a long, long winter. In the 41 years I’ve been in this business, I think this is the latest we’ve gotten started.”

It’s also too cold yet for paint to dry, according to Marc Hebert, owner of Distinctive Painting of North Windham, who has been sticking to interior work.

“Paint won’t cure properly if it’s too cold,” Hebert said. “Some paints say it’s OK to use them at 35 degrees, but you can’t push the limits. I don’t push it.”