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Before you dust off your garden trowel and get to planting your summer garden, check the forecast. 

The National Weather Service predicts strong winds will blow a cold front into Albuquerque on Friday, ushering in a final freeze Saturday morning that may dip temperatures between 28 and 32 degrees, depending on location. 

The North Valley and Corrales can expect a hard freeze at 28 degrees, while the Northeast Heights may have a soft freeze at 30 to 32 degrees. Throughout the day, temperatures will rise to a high of 69 degrees, according to the forecast.

With unseasonably warm March weather, NWS meteorologist Todd Shoemake said many plants bloomed early and now may “be at risk," especially where temperatures will be lowest.

“This year’s been very unique,” Shoemake said.

In March, Albuquerque hit multiple record high days on the tail end of an atypically dry winter. With this warmer weather, many gardeners may have started their growing season early, Shoemake said.

At Alameda Greenhouse in the North Valley — though staff advised against it — many customers have already bought plant starts, eager to begin growing. 

“A lot of people were telling us, ‘Oh, there won’t be another freeze,'" said Alameda Greenhouse Assistant Manager Veronica Eash.

Though Eash advises against planting this weekend, there are a few options to protect your seedlings if you’ve already done so.

Gardeners can cover in-ground plants with a light, breathable material, such as frost cloth, burlap or an old sheet. This preserves higher ground temperatures and may prevent roots from freezing and frost from developing on fragile budding leaves, Eash said. 

For an extra layer of protection, add bark mulch or leaves to your garden bed to cover roots.

If possible, gardeners, especially in the valley, should bring potted plants indoors. However, Eash said, some pots are rated to withstand freezes, and gardeners can check the packaging to find out.

This may be the last freeze of the season if weather follows historic trends, Shoemake said. Despite March breaking records, this freeze comes at its usual time. Typically, the last freeze for the Northeast Heights happens on or around April 14, while the valley often sees its last freeze at the end of the month, around April 23, Shoemake said.

Though this may be the last freeze, Shoemake said, it’s too early to definitively say, so keep your frost cloth ready. 

Gillian Barkhurst is the local government reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com.