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
Debbie Wall says
Hi James! Should plants be watered now and cutback? Or just cutback from where you see green bark and then wait to water? When can you fertilize?
James Gill says
Water if soil is dry, not because leaves are brown. Fertilize after growth starts
Dorothy McCallum says
Thanks for all the info. All the comments so far has covered everything for me except the staghorn ferns and figured it was going to be a wait and see game. I have in the past cut back my bird of Paradise, almost to the ground, due to bugs. It came back beautifully.
You’ll be busy this spring for sure!
James Gill says
Been thinking about your plants. Hope the Norfolk is ok.
Dorothy says
Funny, we thought of you too!
We got 60 ish feet of not -so -happy.
Dorothy says
James,
YIKES! My pony tail palm has splits and is hemorrhaging.
Is that expected?
James Gill says
Yes, expected. If it is in a pot it may be dead. If in the ground, it will maybe grow new sprouts from the base. Just wait and see, and you can cut off any collapsing portions.