Gardening after a freeze
This time of year, in Mississippi we are used to varying temperatures from below freezing to 80 degrees.
Our late December freeze was a surprise to many of us.
So, we have been asking, “What do we do now?”
In regard to our plants, the answer is ... do nothing.
We most likely still have freezing temperatures to come, so leaving the above-ground damage will help protect plants from the weather.
The main thing to do is wait until you know that the plant tissue is dead and there are no more chances of freezing weather before you decide to prune. Then use a sharp blade on the woody tissue of a branch tip to gently skin the bark to reveal the wood beneath.
Look at the scraped tissue- damaged wood, which should be brown, and continue skinning until you find green tissue. Green tissue is healthy.
Prune off all tissue above the green area. Cut at a 30-degree angle to prevent water from accumulating on the cut surface.
The warm weather that led up to the freezing weather caused buds to come out of dormancy. That means, coming this spring there is the possibility of branches making multiple sprouts.
In general, remove sprouts growing into the plant and others that will produce branches that will eventually grow to cross each other to keep the plant strong.
Winter gardening tips
Plant dormant trees and shrubs.
Apply lime to the lawn if needed.
Control your vole population.
Spray dormant oil to control pests on broad-leaved evergreens or fruit trees.
Protect tender plants in extreme cold.
