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
Deborah Beseda says
Thank you so much for all your information on how to save or bury our frozen plants. You are a life saver. Appreciated so much from George West Texas. See you soon for new plants
Mike says
My cardboard palms are brown from the freeze. Should they be cut back or can they recover?
James Gill says
Cut off dead leaves and wait. Like maybe 4 months! They will be slow to put out new leaves, if they are in pots they are likely dead, but if in the ground I would keep them and see if they recover.