cutting back frost/freeze damage????

16 years ago

I live in northern zone 9A and get some frost and freeze damage I cover as much as possible but, my question is when is the best time to cut back the plants that I know have damage now or should I leave the plants till after the winter is done then cut them back ???? I am new to florida and am unsure thank you !!!

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Comments (4)

countrynest
16 years ago
Momo,
I have always been told by Garden masters not to trim until
all danger of frost is over.Otherwise the plants will be stimulated putting forth new tender growth.
Felix
maureen155
16 years ago
I've heard the same advice Felix had for you. Also, I've been told that it may be difficult to know exactly how much was zapped by the frost and you risk trimming more than you should. But, when the most recent frost took out all my gingers and bananas, I did trim the most awful looking leaves away. I couldn't stand looking at them that way anymore.

Maureen
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I concur with denninmi. Our Princeton Sentry has been frozen every year by one since we have had it. It comes out early, and then has little resistance to freezing. A BAD combination when you live in a cold spot. I have tried covering it. Tried covering it and adding lights and heating rocks, and the results are the same. Never grows much after being frozen. It has grown maybe 18-20" in five growing seasons. Top it off, it has turned yellow 1 year. It's late to turn and usually gets frozen in the fall too. I'm fertilizing the crap out of it this year. It either grows, or it's coming out. Arktrees
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A friend told me they would come back faster if your cut off the damaged leaves, but I haven't verifed it myself. (Maybe you can try it on some of yours and report back to us.) Either way, your established plants should survive. But they'll look bad until a new flush of leaves is produced.
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if it's green, it's still feeding the roots. If it's brown, it's not. If, after a week or two, the leaves are brown, cut them back. It will eventually rebound. It's not any different than the frost that hits leaves in fall. They do come back the next spring.
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Hi I think the best protection for most any tropical plant is to keep it dry , covering works wonders down to hard freeze . I generally leave damaged leaves until frost danger has passed . Pruning causes stress and they don'r need more . You don't mention where you live but winter has just begun in the northern hemisphere lol I have had russelia survive with minimal damage down to 27 and recovered immediately. Of course potted plants are more susceptible to cold Good luck with it!!! gary
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drewsmaga
16 years ago
Ditto the advice. You can trim off "fried" (dead) leaves (they will end up smelling bad) but DO NOT touch the stems/trunks of bushes/shrubs/perenials until after the last frost. There are some things you can cut to the ground, like gingers. Also, keep in mind that what may look DEAD in the spring may not be. I had a 15 yr. old, 7 ft. potted ficus that got "killed" in the Dec. '02 hard freezes (I was out of town & DS didn't cover it.) In the spring I cut it down to stumps, but b/c it was a sentimental gift, I couldn't toss the lifeless thing, even in June, with NO signs of growth, just stumps. It started coming back to life in July and within 2 yrs, had grown back to it's former beauty.
sandy_9a_fl_gulf
16 years ago
Strange as it sounds, all those frosted leaves should stay right where they are until late Spring. When new growth starts is the time to prune, but don't be in too much of a hurry.
For the winter the dead looking branches will act as a blanket against further damage, and new growth will spread to the ends of branches that you might think are goners.
A lot of the fried leaves can be simply brushed off and allowed to drop under the plant when you are ready to Cut. Free mulch.
Not bad having a built in frost cover if you're busy, it just looks a little shaggy for about 4 months.

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cutting back frost/freeze damage????

Comments (4)

countrynest

maureen155

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drewsmaga

sandy_9a_fl_gulf

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