We did some heavy pruning of all 9 15 yr old trees. There are some small buds coming out at the base of the main trunks. I am not sure what to make of this yet, but I will continue watering them (fertilized earlier) before making a decision. These "shrubs" stood over 10 ft. tall and served as a privacy fence between us and the neighbor. As a pro-active measure we planted 8 "sweet olive" shrubs in between the suffering legustrum. If,, in the next year we decided to cut them off at the base, then we at least have something else in place to create another privacy fence. Its a sad situation because they were so full and healthy with large trunks and expansive roots. Rob - in Tyler

until it fully leafs out.. and you know what parts are dead.. or severely damaged ... or until everythign else is the area leafs out.. and this one doesnt .... unless you have a crystal ball and can summons the spirits.. to let you know in advance .. if you do.. and you can.. i would appreciate you bringing it by.. so we can figure it all out on my plants.. lol .. and dont scratch it anymore.. time will tell ... maybe.. if spring ever actually come this year... look to the buds.. are they viable.. the buds are always the future ... w/o them.. you have to wait and see.. if the plant can rebud.. and that will even take longer ... or .. being a privet.. just cut it to 6 inches.. and forget about it ... out of site.. out of mind.. with no insult to the root mass.. it will be at least half the size by fall .... its all about.. how long you want to look at it .... in the state its in right now ... [yeah.. yeah.. if its in tree form.. dont do that] ken

Freeze damage is ruptured cells and they cease to function as cells for nutrient transport. Where Freeze damage happens, it is what it is. Canker is more, in a bad way. (At least this is what I believe based on growing a lot of roses inzone 6-7 where winter can be kind only to turn merciless in early spring.) Odd question, but important: are you colorblind? I ask because my husband is and there are reddish and reddish purple colors that he can't see. And that makes canker ID a whole lot harder.) Canker is a (IMO) catchall term for fungus that thrive on dead plant tissue. But worse, there are fungi that don't need a lot to get a mycelia-hold fast (little mycologist humor there) to appear on a stem. Are the fungi active? Apparently some, maybe most, give off ethylene gas in large enough amounts to affect adjacent otherwise healthy cells. When those cells are affected, the color changes from green to reddish magenta. And it doesn't change back, even when the causing fungus becomes inactive due to heat/humidity. I've seen Tea roses survive with only half a cane green an the rest dead . That cane will be weak but may last years, especially if supported. If you cut through a cane and see totally dead pith, then it becomes a learning experience: that pith will be crushed by the growth of the stem-unless the fungus has damaged the xylem and phloem system. I think there are major variations from rose class to class. I don't understand Chinas, aside from Old Blush. Polyanthas are like their kin, except most of the kinships aren't published. Hybrid Teas seem really susceptible to winter damages, and to spring damages. there's a reason they were greenhouse grown a century ago and where they would be budded on the rootstock of the countryside. If I were you, I'd choose to do autopsies on canes that you think are going to die and see what's happening inside them. I'd also check out some less healthy canes that you'd cut off anyway, and see if all the canes are looking fresh on the inside. And then some of us are going to have to watch out for cicadas this summer and that's a whole 'nother set of symptoms. Ann

Ike, just terrible freeze you endured..ugh! I've gone through 15F nights years ago and from that can echo Steve... let it all settle. You will see better than you expected result... and worse. And in unexpected ways. Wishing you the best....