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
Tasha says
How about Esperanzas?
James Gill says
Probably dead to the ground, but will regrow from the stump and roots. Scratch the bark to see if there is any live tissue further up, bright green, not sickly yellow green.
Kathleen Fleming says
Hi James,
I have two giant staghorn fern‘s that we covered but unfortunately they look really really brown. I am wondering are they done for or is there anything I can do
James Gill says
If not on the ground, probably dead. But only waiting will tell.