The freezes and cold weather we endured in December and January have many people asking whether it is time to prune cold-damaged plants.  The answer in most cases is wait.

 

We had cold and freezing temperatures and then it has begun to warm up, but remember, winter's not over.

 

Our winter temperatures fluctuate all season - one week it's winter, the next week we think spring has sprung and then winter decides to pay us a visit again.

 

As result of the freezing periods, the less cold hardy, tropical and subtropical landscape plants can be injured.

 

For example, it's normal for plants such as oleander, plumbago, hibiscus, bottlebrush and philodendron to suffer some cold damage.  As soon as it warms up, gardeners want to cut away the dead and dying leaves and branches.  But this really is not the best idea.

 

During winter it's difficult to tell how much damage has been done to these plants.  If you prune immediately after a freeze, you probably will cut away live wood that does not have to be lost.

 

Also, leaves and branches, which have been killed, can help protect the rest of the plant when the next freeze strikes.

 

Some of the more tender landscape plants such as bananas, cassia, gingers, crinum, tropical hibiscus and many of the tropical perennials might have been killed back to the ground.  Don't give up on them too soon.  These plants might surprise you by sending up new shoots come spring.  Some of these plants require warm soil temperatures before they'll produce new growth. 

 

Many of the gingers, for example, might not show any signs of life until April or May.

 

Some winter and spring flowering plants such as camellias and azaleas might experience flower bud damage.  This will be evident at blooming time with few to no flowers.  Cold damaged camellia flower buds will either drop off the plant or only partially open showing brown centers.  You can take a bud and break it open and if the bud is brown you can expect few flowers.  Stem damage will show up in spring and early summer when some of the branches die.

 

Cold-injured leaves will fall as new spring growth occurs.

 

Individual stems on some azalea varieties, bottlebrush and plumbago plants are prone to splitting or cracking during a freeze.  These dead branches should be pruned out as they occur in spring and summer, cutting below the split or injured area into healthy wood.  I tested a few stems of my plumbago and found the stems were dead down to the crown of the plant.

 

From experience, I knew I could prune the stems down to the crown and in the spring new stems will appear and the plant will regain its shape.

 

Winter isn't over yet.  February and early March can bring occasional frosts and freezes.  In our area we have had frosts in April.  Once spring is here and the danger of frost is passed, you'll know what to prune.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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