[GeoStL] Re: NCR-Plant damage
- From: "Barbara Kryvko" <barbarastl@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:50:09 -0500
-
Bernie,
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't planted the garden yet, but I was
wondering whether to prune a small tree who lost all of its leaves in the
recent frost. Now I know just to leave it the heck alone!
Barbara
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernie" <happykraut@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 5:24 AM
Subject: [GeoStL] NCR-Plant damage
> -
> In the aftermath of the recent record-breaking cold spell, gardeners must
> be
> patient with their damaged plants, especially our trees and shrubs. The
> freeze puts a damper on what had turned out to be an early, but beautiful
> spring.
> At this time it appears the worst injury is limited to open flowers, new
> buds, and new foliage. Spent flowers will be shed and most of the damaged
> leaves will continue to deteriorate in the days ahead, eventually drying
> up
> and falling off. Expect the appearance of your garden to decline
> aesthetically for a period of weeks before fresh, new growth returns. It
> may
> take until mid-summer before your garden looks "normal" again.
>
> Perennials with damaged leaves and stems can be cut back to the ground and
> will respond with rapid new growth. However, resist the temptation to
> prune
> frosted trees and shrubs. Healthy well-established plants will produce new
> growth. How quickly this occurs will depend on individual species,
> location
> in the landscape, and the severity of the damage sustained.
>
> Resist the temptation to fertilize heavily. With the loss of flower buds,
> all of the trees energy will be channeled into vigorous vegetative
> regrowth.
> Fertilizer could actually produce excesses of growth that will have to
> pruned at a later date, creating higher maintenance in the long term.
>
> Water cautiously. Avoid soggy conditions which can do more harm than good,
> but do irrigate during long dry spells. Reducing water stress may be the
> single best thing you can do to help your plants recover this summer.
>
> Overall, consider this untimely freeze only a temporary setback. Given
> time
> and patience, our gardens will recover. Since every dark cloud always has
> a
> silver lining, on the plus side we probably won't have to worry about
> raking
> up any Sweetgum balls this autumn.
>
> Chip Tynan
> Missouri Botanical Garden "Answer Man"
> William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening
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