Once they have gone to fern I prefer to leave them to grow and only cut them in the late fall after they go dormant. The crown benefits from leaving them, not from cutting them. Dave

Jonathan, An interesting observation. Not sure what 'tip' means. Probably you did not mean those dormant 'scale shields' that first drop off at dormancy break, cannot remember the right technical term. Just went out to inspect all my figs trees. Noticed some that fit your description. At this early stage of spring, I noticed some figs with 'still tightly' held buds that looked reddish. On very close examination, I noticed that it is ACTUALLY the underside of the (very young) curled leaves that FIRST shows up, together with their underside veins! This is what gives the 'tip' the red hue. No contradiction here. Then the leaf flips over and the vein red color fades, as it matures. This is what I observed: My 2 HCs (sources: EL and Hartmann) showed it. Sal's (EL) showed it. VdB (EL) showed it. My #4 unknown (Ta Cenc) showed it (wonder what this fig really is!). My #2 (MOST obvious, also observed by Herman last year) and #5 unknowns (supposedly of the Mission fig type) showed it. All other figs none... Specifically looked at the Black Mission and Vista Mission young figs (both) from Jon, and neither showed it! They may in a more advanced leafing out stage. However I did observe the the Vista breba start as a bead-sized, shoe-polish-black color, and then fade away as the figlets grows... George (NJ).

Hello dawiff...thanks a lot. Yes had realized that they had relaxed the water ban just this past week. Just was too little too late for some of my plants. Very annoying to see the town High School and local businesses still having their sprinklers come on while the total water ban was in effect. Thanks ego for that clear logical response. I won't have any problem cutting off completely dead leaves, but what about something like my Oakleaf Hydrangea that just has brown edges? My question is whether it will put out new leaves if I cut off some of them and if it does is that bad for the shrub at this time of year? Thanks :-)

Claire, Absolutely do not cut the leaves!! This means that the bulb is starting to grow roots and the leaves feed the roots for many months so as to insure the health of the bulb and to hopefully produce flowers for next season. If you wish to make the plant look a little neater you can trim down the spent stalks once the flowers have finished blooming (although some people think they should be left to die naturally so that any energy left in the stalks goes back into the bulb) but leave a few inches of the stalk so you can pull it out once it has mostly died. Most people enjoy a bulb that produces leaves along with the flower stalks, it just makes the plant look nicer. You are lucky to have a third flower stalk and blooming with leaves should be a treat for you! Continue to let the leaves grow through the summer until fall and then check back to find out what to do at that time. Good luck and enjoy your third flower stalk. Donnaâºâº