April showers bring May flowers, but warm winters may cause them to arrive ahead of schedule.This year’s mild winter might have been pleasant for students, but the weather could cause problems for many plants.Some plants may have been brought out of their dormant state by the unseasonably warm weather, said Rich Pearson, an Ohio State horticulturist.”I think we’re, in many cases, a month ahead of season,” Pearson said.Tulips, daffodils and other early spring flowers that have been encouraged to come out by the lack of ground freezing may suffer some damage, said Thomaz Przepiorkowski, a graduate student in horticulture.”A lot depends on how far along the plants were,” said Pablo Jourdan, associate professor of horticulture and crop science.Some early flowering trees have lost bud scales, a protective layer covering the bud, in preparation to bloom, Pearson said. These trees will probably not have a good flower display this spring because of the cold weather.”The very best thing that could happen would be a 10-inch snow that would insulate [the buds] from the cold,” he said.Sudden drastic changes in temperature can also crack tree bark, which may cause permanent damage. It may result in fungus and disease infestation, Pearson said.The cold temperatures, however, can also have a positive effect.Just like plants, insects are ahead of schedule, Przepiorkowski said. This sudden cold weather will kill off many pests. But, some insects that are beneficial to plants could be killed as well, he said.There are measures that can be taken to help plants out, he said.”Mulch will help insulate plants now, and help in spring to prevent weeds,” he said.Covering plants with sheets will also help insulate the plants from wind and cold temperatures, Jourdan said. Plastic covers should not be used because ice can still form on plants.Realistically though, there’s not much you can do but let nature take its course, he said.