With the cold temperatures behind us, for now at least, here are the first steps we suggest you take in caring for your plants after a cold snap.❄️
⏳Be Patient. This is the hardest part of dealing with winter damage. It is crucial that you resist the urge to prune until we are past any risk of frost or freeze. The damaged foliage will serve as an insulating layer if more cold weather comes through. We usually recommend to start pruning at the end of February.
🚫Don’t Fertilize. Fertilizer may stimulate growth on plants, but if we get cold again, that tender new growth will be extremely sensitive to the cold. Even cold hardy plants shouldn’t be fertilized during this time of year. Wait until after you prune in spring to fertilize.
💧Do Water! After a cold night, plants will have lost lots of water. Be sure to water them well at the roots so that as they warm back up, water is available to replace what was lost in the cold winds.
In the meantime, keep an eye on your garden, taking note of which spots were the warmest and which were the coldest. Plan accordingly for the spring, and you’ll be able to pick which plants are likely to perform best for each spot in your garden.