01/25/2025
Leave your plants alone for now even if they look ugly. Give them time to recuperate before you start trimming. If we have a freeze again those dead leaves will help protect the underlying plant that may still be alive.
After this week's frigid temperatures, don't panic! While they may not look their prettiest, most plants will do better in the long run if they’re left alone for now, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg.
The complete scope of freeze damage isn’t always immediately apparent, and plants that appear to be dead may in fact still be alive. That’s why Stagg recommends waiting until spring to prune affected plants.
“Once the plants start regrowing and new buds start emerging, only then can you tell how far the plant truly died back,” he said. “Pruning before then could prematurely cut off too much viable tissue that the plant can regrow from.”
There are other good reasons to put off pruning. The remaining stems, even if they’re unsightly, will help protect plants from further damage as winter wears on. They also provide overwintering habitat for beneficial insects.
For those who just can’t wait, Stagg has a few pieces of advice. Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/4t5y9rsc
