Will this cold snap earlier in the week hurt my plants?

Sunday and Monday nights 4/19 and 4/20/26, Freeze Warnings were issued by FEMA for portions of North-central, North-east and Northwest Ohio. What is a Freeze Warning? "Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing" according to the FEMA Website. In Northwest Ohio along the Lake Erie lakeshore, we had temperatures in the low 30's. degrees F. In Geauga County, according to OSU Assistant Professor Erik Draper, the low on Sunday night-Monday morning was 27 degrees F. The question is "Will the cold hurt my plants?" Let's look at groups of plants. Most spring flowering bulbs/plants will be just fine. In fact, Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Narcissus can endure a little snow. In general, ornamental trees and shrubs can endure colder temperatures at or just below freezing. But if they are in full bloom, the cold temperatures can damage the flowers and cause them to turn brown. Good examples of those flowers that endured damage are Star and Saucer Magnolias. Most of their flowers got burned. In the case of fruit trees, temperatures below 29 degrees F, especially for an extended period of time can mean death to the flowers and loss of fruit depending on the stage of development. Apricots tend to flower early and therefor are susceptible to loss. Peaches are next in sensitivity to freezing cold temperatures followed by apples. In addition, grapes can be at risk. Gary Gao, Ph.D., Professor and Small Fruit Specialist, The Ohio State University put out information on damage to fruit crops. The link is found below: https://u.osu.edu/hardinanr/2025/04/04/some-resources-for-dealing-with-frosts-and-freezes-in-fruit-crops/ The problem occurs when we have temperatures in the 70's for several days, then a cold snap. Trees and shrubs will begin to leaf out and flower. That's what happened this spring with temps last week in the 70's. Then, a freeze that follows can cause damage and death to flower and fruit buds and blossoms. In general, the damage that occurred will be site specific. Topography can play a role as well. Lower lying areas allow colder temperatures to collect than on higher elevations. That's why many times you will see vineyards growing grapes at the top of ridges and not down in low lying sections. Unfortunately, especially for fruiting trees and shrubs, we may not know until the plant begins to set fruit. No fruit means it just got too cold. As for summer annuals and vegetables, they should not be planted until the frost-free date in your area. The National Weather Service has a guide on frost free dates listed here: https://www.weather.gov/cle/frost_freeze A general rule of thumb for most gardeners is to wait until after Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May. But before you plant, look at the extended forecast. If there is a chance of late frost, wait to be on the safe side. Annuals can be purchased and put outside during the day in temperature above the upper 30's but brought in at night to a garage or protected area with minimum heat above 32 degrees. This will also help to harden off plants and make transplanting more successful. So, did the cold hurt my plants? Yes, no or maybe. Time will tell.