2021 Freeze-5 weeks after

Thankfully, many plants are beginning to show new growth after being assaulted by record-low temperatures in February.

However, we are still not “out of the woods” yet, as some plants may be late to show signs of life. There are many that we KNOW either will not come back or will not come back satisfactorily, so they may be removed/replaced now.

I’d also like to remind everyone that although we did get a bit of rain this week, we have been and are currently under drought conditions. As temperatures warm and new growth appears, remember to begin watering regularly.

 

First, the plants that are returning may now be pruned back to the new growth or in some cases, back to the ground. Here are some examples:

Any herbaceous perennials such as Turk’s Cap, Plumbago (maybe), Mystic Spires Salvia, Mexican Bush Sage, Black and Blue Salvia, Leadwort Plumbago, Society Garlic, Chinese Ground Orchid, Rock Rose (Pavonia), Cedar Sage, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turk’s Cap                               Black and Blue Salvia                                Plumbago

Any grasses or grass-like plants should be pruned as soon as new growth is seen. Do not wait, as it will be difficult not to tip the new growth if it grows too much before you prune.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Mexican Feather Grass                             Giant Liriope

 

Evergreen Sumac, Texas Sage, Texas Mountain Laurel may be pruned back to live growth or to the ground if old and woody.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas Mountain Laurel                        Evergreen Sumac                                  Texas Sage

(not all Mtn. Laurels look this good)

 

Southern Wax Myrtle may be showing signs of growth in some locations. It may be pruned hard if necessary.

 

Plants that you might wait for late signs of growth include Sago Palm, Oleander, Pride of Barbados, Esperanza, Windmill Palm.

These are heat-lovers, and may not come back right away. It may be worth the wait, depending on how protected they were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sago Palm

 

 

 

Plants that may be removed now include Rosemary, both Upright and Trailing, Loquats, and Indian Hawthorn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Prostrate Rosemary

 

 

 

Sweet Viburnum, Coppertop Viburnum and most likely Sandankwa Viburnum (although you might wait on this one).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Sweet Viburnum                       Sandankwa Viburnum

Lantana in most cases will not come back, although Texas Lantana and Lantana camara (the naturalized pink Lantana) may come back in sheltered locations. You can cut them all back now.

 

 

Bicolor Iris will likely not fill in satisfactorily. If you really want to try to save it, and it is over 3 years old, dig up the entire clump once it shows new growth and replant only the parts with the new growth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                          Bicolor Iris

 

Jerusalem Sage took a hit and most will not come back.

Mexican Fan Palms, Pindo Palms and Mediterranean Fan Palms most likely will not come back unless they are in a protected area and have a green “spike leaf”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Mediterranean Fan Palm

 

Any Agave that are completely “mush”, with no new growth that remains healthy, may be removed now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      Agave

Obviously, we cannot list every plant that you are concerned about, but you get the idea. Be patient. We should know by mid-summer what is truly dead or permanently damaged by the freeze.