Gemonimo Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 After the -13 temperatures recently I was not surprised to find a whole bunch of my plants looking rather sad - brown leaves but with stalks still green. Should I drastically cut them back or will new green leaves appear after the brown ones drop off? The plants in question are: Escallonia, Cistus, Spirea, Oleander and a few others. My Choysia is looking rather 'burnt' but remarkably my Lavatera is looking quite perky. Thanks for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I would not prune back yet - we could still get some frosts. Better to wait until the plants start budding and then decide where to cut back to. Mind you we had -20° and I have a few plants that look like gonners - but you never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Yes, I was only looking at our Cistus today and it doesn't look great! Crispy leaves etc.As Andy says, best left for a few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Rather cold here in 56 last night but the sun is out with clear blue sky.My lettuce under cloches look to be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukhostland Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Hang on before you make any drastic decisions; plants that look completely dead can sprout again from buds currently not visible, both above and below ground.We have a garden planted in stages over the last the years and as a garden designer you can imagine there are some rather nice things here (dept 36); many are looking very rough at the moment but its far too early to panic: time will tell.Interestingly, some species that I thought would never survive look very healthy (Choisya Aztec Pearl, a Helichysum grown from a cutting last year) while others I would imagine would be fine are knocking on Death's door ( Azalea japonica, Camellia).I am always pushing my luck growing plants that are on the limits of hardiness;o every-so-often Nature likes to remind me who's boss!Colin Elliott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemonimo Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 Well I guess I'll just have to be patient![Www] In addition to the frost damage, I had the stonework on the front of my house done this year and the fabulous Pierre de Ronsard climbing rose is looking pretty grim. I've trimmed it radically and hope it will come back as beautiful as ever. In fact it's so beautiful, I've planted another one on the other side of the house.[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 We've had the same problem, with temperatures down to -17 and a lot of newly planted trees and shrubs, I'm almost dreading spring[:(] It looks like I have lost my Hebe Veronica, my Lavetera looks really poorly as does the Honeysuckle. Last year I planted a Potato vine, it grew beautifully and draped itself across half the veranda, now it's leaves have all withered and gone dark but none of them have fallen[blink] I was thinking about pruning back as the stems are still green inside, but is it possible that it could shoot from the dead leaved areas? I would love it if it could make it to the other side of the veranda this year[:-))]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 [quote user="Gardian"]Yes, I was only looking at our Cistus today and it doesn't look great! Crispy leaves etc.As Andy says, best left for a few weeks.[/quote]Seven weeks on and it appears to be rising from the dead!Four weeks ago, I decided to prune it hard back (I know that Cistus doesn't like that treatment, but it was that or ditch it). It's now sprouting like nobody's business. It may never be the same plant again, but we'll see.On another matter, we've noticed that the Wisteria around here appear to have suffered - ours the same, though a much younger plant. Nowhere near the same abundance nor 'coloration' of flowering than in previous years. The hard Winter?Following on from that, virtually no bees around. By now, they'd normally be very busy (sorry!), but only a few sniffing around the Wisteria. I'm fearful that it's going to be a lean year and that many of the local colonies may have died out with the hard Winter. Any thoughts from the knowledgable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Just an update on the Cistus.It won't flower this year, but it's far from dead. In truth, the battering it got from the hard winter forced a good 'haircut' and it looks a lot better for it.New lease of life for next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I had a cistus here in the front of the house which faces south/south west and used to prune it reguarly , usually pretty early in the spring.....it was so large there was no choice..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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