Treating Freeze-Damaged Plants

Southern Arizona didn’t experience an exceptionally cold winter this year but the few cold nights did take it’s toll on plants susceptible to freeze. In this week’s Landscaping Maintenance Tips, we will talk about how to treat those damaged plants.

Some of the common plants that are adversely affected by cold winter nights are bougainvillea, lantana, bird of paradise, dwarf oleander and salvia, to name a few. The first step is do nothing—it’s natural to want to prune those bare branches from the damaged plants, but it’s best to wait until warmer weather before pruning. Signs of new growth will give you an indicator of when it’s okay to prune the damaged plant. The damaged branches provide protection in case more cold weather hits.

April is normally a good time to do prune damaged foliage. For bougainvilleas, prune the damaged foliage back to the living tissue in order to rejuvenate the plant. Don’t be afraid to prune all the way down to a few inches from the ground if the plant is severely damaged. It will come back in time.

If the plants have mulch around the base, rake it back around the crown to allow the light and warmth to hasten growth and faster recovery. Once strong growth is established, replace the mulch.

When treating freeze damaged cacti and succulents, look for bacterial rot. Carefully prune the affected areas back to healthy tissue. Be careful to prevent the infection from spreading.

Landtamers Landscaping specializes in Landscape Maintenance in Tucson for residential and commercial landscapes as well as hardscapes, xeriscapes, and tree services.