[billethkid]

Wouldn't this be a good time to shop for landscaping? First you would be able to see what did not survive in your yard. Secondly you would be able to see what did survive at the nursery.
I have given up trying to protect the fragile stuff. The coverings are not going to protect the plants from the prolonged hard freezes we have been experiencing. I will replace what doesn't make it with more cold hardy varieties of southern climate vegitation.

btk

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Wouldn't this be a good time to shop for landscaping? First you would be able to see what did not survive in your yard. Secondly you would be able to see what did survive at the nursery.
I have given up trying to protect the fragile stuff. The coverings are not going to protect the plants from the prolonged hard freezes we have been experiencing. I will replace what doesn't make it with more cold hardy varieties of southern climate vegitation.

btk

My question is, when does the damage become apparent? My crotons have already appeared to have given up the ghost, but other than that most of my stuff is still looking OK (even the hibiscus which still has flowers - however, I have them covered with Christmas lights surrounding them to keep them warm).

When we first arrived here at the tail end of last winter, the landscaping talks presented by the extension service were filled with people saying they lost a lot of their landscaping and the experts were saying last winter was the worst in decades. Now, we are having a winter that makes last winter seem downright balmy by comparison (it is colder, for more days, freezing for more hours per day and less warm up during the daylight hours). So, when will the damage to palms, etc. become apparent? Also, I've heard that a lot of stuff will look dead but then come back in the spring. If so, perhaps we need to wait until May to make a final assessment???

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Wouldn't this be a good time to shop for landscaping? First you would be able to see what did not survive in your yard. Secondly you would be able to see what did survive at the nursery.
I have given up trying to protect the fragile stuff. The coverings are not going to protect the plants from the prolonged hard freezes we have been experiencing. I will replace what doesn't make it with more cold hardy varieties of southern climate vegitation.

btk

We had not visited a nursery yet, that is a good idea, as you can ask questions. We have been paying close attention to plants as we drive around TV looking for hardy ones that we like. I suspect even the plants that were covered will not survive this cold (less than 27 for hours). By not survive, I mean they will look pretty shabby until their spring trim and hopefully new growth comes back. When the covers come off later in the week we will see.....

It is not part of my retire plan to setup lights for warmth and cover plants whenever there is the threat of cold.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by NJblue

My question is, when does the damage become apparent? My crotons have already appeared to have given up the ghost, but other than that most of my stuff is still looking OK (even the hibiscus which still has flowers - however, I have them covered with Christmas lights surrounding them to keep them warm).

Good covers and lights have a chance. I think you see damage within a few days. I can tell you my hibiscus looks awful (I did not cover). It looked like this last year, we cut it back to the ground after no more chance of frost and it came back from the dead.
The problem with our strategy is that it looks like from first freeze until June

[otherbruddaDarrell]

We lost about 12 nice Crotons last winter.........did not replant any.

[NJblue]

My wife doesn't want any plants that are "northern". What plants have people found that are tropical in appearance but tolerate a winter like this (by tolerate, I mean at least survive and come back in the spring)? So far, it appears crotons are a "no" and hibiscus is a "yes". What about bougainvillea? lantana? Anything else?

[Bettiboop]

Originally Posted by NJblue

My wife doesn't want any plants that are "northern". What plants have people found that are tropical in appearance but tolerate a winter like this (by tolerate, I mean at least survive and come back in the spring)? So far, it appears crotons are a "no" and hibiscus is a "yes". What about bougainvillea? lantana? Anything else?

Lantana are pretty hardy and should recover without a problem. Hibiscus -- even if freeze gets them mine almost always come back the following year...especially if heavily mulched. Bougainvillea -- One of my favorites, but they don't tolerate freezing temp as well as some others might.

[swrinfla]

My hibiscus survived a couple of "minor" freezes in 2008, but last winter's more intense freezes did them in, entirely. Frankly, I would suspect that most hibiscuses (?hibisci?) will NOT have survived this present spell.

I haven't looked under their blanket, but I assume that my crotons are gone.


Before too long, I expect to get really serious about relandscaping entirely with cold- and drought-resistant plants! I've just got to feel warmer!

SWR