Over the next few weeks, we will be addressing the freeze damage to plants which everyone has suffered. We are working on a video giving easy to follow instructions about what to prune and how.
It is not critical, and in fact, may be too early, to start most pruning immediately. If you have palm leaves hanging down, you may prune them as soon as this last freeze (hopefully) passes. Gingers, which look blowtorched, may be cut to 18″ tall this weekend if desired. Blackened, wilted herbaceous plants like Mexican petunia (Ruellia) and shrimp plant can be cut close to the ground. But woody shrubs like ixora and plumbago, small trees like citrus, and sad looking philodendrons should be left alone another week until we can more closely determine the level of damage, and therefore where to prune.
Watch for us to address these recovery issues here in the Garden News and on social media. Email us at info@gillnursery or message us on Facebook and Instagram with your related questions, so our upcoming instruction video is as complete as possible in helping you through this temporary setback.
– James Gill
Diane Carter says
I have an Indian carnation that looks pitiful. Also, a lot of my succulents look worrisome…large aloes, smaller star-like aloe types, devil’s backbone, crotons. Thank you so much for all you do to make Corpus Christi beautiful (again)!
James Gill says
Croton and Indian carnation, look for green under the bark, even just down at ground level. Prune to that point, then once you see new growth, start watering and fertilizing to regrow the plant. Aloes and other succulents, remove mushy tissue and hope for regrowth.
Daryl Taliaferro says
What about aloe vera and and spider lilies, Moses in a cradle
Thank you ????
James Gill says
Prune back spider lilies, remove mushy parts of aloe and moses, wait for regrowth. Most likely they will survive and look good by end of summer.