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
Pat says
Thank you, My large Philodendron and Schefflera tree need all the help you can give.
James Gill says
Scratch the bark on the schefflera to see where it is still alive, and cut at that point. It will regrow! The trunk on the philodendron may get mushy if it has frozen , you can either just cut that trunk way back close to the ground and let it regrow, or wait a few weeks and the squeeze the trunk til you find where it is still firm, and cut there.
Pat eldridge says
What about Bird of Paradise
James Gill says
Probably all leaves are dead. Prune close to the ground and it will likely recover. It will be slow, once growth resumes water and fertilize regularly but not excessively, and you will grow a beautiful new plant.
Helen DuBois says
How long will it take for citrus trees like lime and valley lemons to show damage? What can we do to help them recover?
James Gill says
You will scratch the bark and check for green, may have to wait a few more days. Cut back to live wood above the graft. If there is no live wood until below the graft, remove the tree or attempt to do a new graft (difficult and iffy). Remove any sprouts that occur from below the graft. Fertilize twice in spring and once again September 15, and water weekly if we don’t get rain, to help it recover as fast as possible. We have made it through this in the past and we will again.
John Hardie says
I’ll be eager to see whether the trees in the King’s Forest recover. I’m concerned about the wild olives, poinciana, and anacacho orchids.
William Kowalik says
I have two anacacho orchid trees in my yard near Kerrville and the have survived temps as low as 15 in the past.
Teri Beck says
Please tell everyone the Plumeria Society of South Texas is a resource for their Plumeria issues if they didn’t dig them up. Our fb page can be found by searching PSST or Plumeria Society of South Texas.
Charlene chesshir says
Thanks so much. Sure will be looking for help.
Debi says
I am sick about my palms and bougainvillea. Please give me tips on trying to save them.
James Gill says
Nothing you can do to “save” them. You will just remove dead leaves from the palm and give it time, if the heart is frozen it will not produce new leaves. The bougainvillea will come back from the roots if it is planted in the ground. Tomorrow, scratch the bark and look for rich green. That is where it is still alive, but it might be all the way down to the ground. Check and see. My mom cut them to the ground several times back in the 50s and 60s and they always came back.
Lisa Wright says
Thanks, James, John, and I will be following your suggestions!
Pat Harris says
Thank you, Gills nursery for your informative weekly emails!!
Debi Welch says
Thank you James. So helpful. What about bird of paradise. The trash collectors are coming to our neighborhood this week and we were wondering if we can prune them now.
James Gill says
tomorrow as temperatures rise, yes.
Lisa M Kelley says
What is your recommendation for cardboard palms? I have some in ground and some huge ones in pots. Also, how can I determine hiw far I need to trim back inground hibiscus? Thanks for your help. This has just been so awful!! Thanks again.
Lisa Kelley
susie says
Thanks so much James and all!
I’m following along and surely will prune accordingly. See yall when the suns shining.