[La lamy]

I brought in all my potted plants into my garage and they were okay, but my flowering bush did not fare so well. I had to cut back all the dead flowers and leaves, and it's looking a tad naked, except for a branch that was hidden in the back with flowers on it. It's way higher than the rest but I just had to leave it! My grass is completely burned out from the freeze.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I brought in all my potted plants into my garage and they were okay, but my flowering bush did not fare so well. I had to cut back all the dead flowers and leaves, and it's looking a tad naked, except for a branch that was hidden in the back with flowers on it. It's way higher than the rest but I just had to leave it! My grass is completely burned out from the freeze.

Probably shouldn’t have cut it back until the end of March; I’ve had a couple of landscaping companies tell me that.

[laryb]

I covered 6 ixora shrubs we have. It seems the south facing sides of the plants died and turned brown, but probably only 5% of each plant. Will not trim them back so the dead leafs are the ones touching the covers in the event I have to cover them again. From what I've read, we're out of the ixora's zone, so covering seems to work. We've had them for 5 or 6 years now

[tophcfa]

Same plants that took a hit from the cold last winter got hit again. Covering them last weekend didn’t seem to help. Just like last year, we will cut them way back in March and by the end of the summer they should be back to normal. If only the frost would kill all the dam weeds.

[dewilson58]

"I had to cut back all the dead flowers and leaves"



People, don't cut back now.
If another chill comes, a freeze on fresh cuts will greatly damage the plant.
Plus you might be cutting back good stuff......let the plants have a chance to show you what can grow.

(I slept at a Holiday Inn Express)

[thelegges]

Our lawn guys showed us the small amount of damage on a few bushes. Told us they would not trim until spring. For us to leave them be. We didn’t cover. Our lawn had that winter look for a few weeks before the frost

[rjn5656]

Few edges of flowering bushes took a hit, but overall not bad. No cutting back until mid March.

[Arctic Fox]

We have been planting up at the rear to replace grass - mainly Florida natives but some annuals (and the Xmas poinsettias!)

We only covered (as much as we could) on the worst night and, generally, most survived, albeit with some low bushes taking a 30% hit. Most of the poinsettias lost their red leaves, but not the two that we planted under trees.

Mrs Fox won't let me prune anything until St Valentine's Day (patron saint of epilepsy and beekeepers, so he obviously knew a thing or two) which is when the Crepes will be murdered, but we'll leave the damage on the bushes until the end of February to see if there is any recovery.

We have always said that if the plants can't survive by themselves then they don't deserve to be in our garden, but it is always a shame to lose some - eight hours of sub-freezing temperatures was an extreme test.

[Bonnevie]

I didn't cover anything this year. have several plants that took a hit. most of my plants are Florida friendly. I will wait until March and cut them all back, some to the ground. I expect most will come back as they have in the past. looks ugly now but just have to wait it out. if you cut back now and it gets warm (as it is now) new growth will come and if we get another freeze, the plant will be more susceptible to damage and death.

[La lamy]

Interesting to hear about not cutting dead parts until March. Live and learn! But if it is because another frost could damage them badly, then I will certainly hope for balmy weather from now on. So sad to see so many plants around TV looking badly damaged, but also taking note of the ones that were okay.

[BigSteph]

I live south of 44. Covered most non-native plants. Some Hibiscus are burnt and the tops of a few palms. In any case, I'll leave them alone until March or later.

Back in Virginia, we planted Hibiscus (they may have been a different variety) and they died back each year. In spring, you either leave the stalks or cut them to the ground. By Summer they were 3' tall and near 4' by fall -- where they die off again.

Originally Posted by La lamy

I brought in all my potted plants into my garage and they were okay, but my flowering bush did not fare so well. I had to cut back all the dead flowers and leaves, and it's looking a tad naked, except for a branch that was hidden in the back with flowers on it. It's way higher than the rest but I just had to leave it! My grass is completely burned out from the freeze.

[birdawg]

Natures way of trimming. They will all come back.

[snhmhg]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I brought in all my potted plants into my garage and they were okay, but my flowering bush did not fare so well. I had to cut back all the dead flowers and leaves, and it's looking a tad naked, except for a branch that was hidden in the back with flowers on it. It's way higher than the rest but I just had to leave it! My grass is completely burned out from the freeze.

Pruning Brown Plants From Winter Damage - UF/IFAS Extension Duval County

[Ptmckiou]

I covered everything with frost blankets but the banana tree, elephant ear, and bougainvilleas lost a lot of leaves. I won’t know until spring if it killed any of the Bougainvillea branches. Thank goodness we made frost frames out of pvc, for the lemon and lime trees. That way the frost blankets didn’t touch their leaves and damage them. Our lime has blossoms and the lemon has lots of fruit on the tree. Both came through unharmed and didn’t lose a leave. The frost blankets with the frames worked! Yea! I will trim in March.

[merrymini]

Major hair cut after Feb 15. Everything looks rotten for awhile and then grows back and will look great. Did this several years ago and they grew back like crazy. No problem.