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How to Know if Shrubs Are Alive After a Freeze
- , Plants
Once the winter freeze has passed, it’s crucial to evaluate whether your shrubs have sustained any damage from the freeze. Identifying any damage early on will either allow you a head start in rehabilitating the shrub or planning to plant new shrubs. We have included below several important steps you should take to evaluate your shrubs after a freeze.
Verify Shrub Cold Hardiness
Before examining your plant, the first thing you can do is check the cold hardiness of your shrub. This will tell you if the shrub can survive Texas winter temperatures. This is called plant hardiness. Check your plant’s tag or search the internet for your specific shrub’s hardiness zones. Then, verify it against the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website database. This will help you to identify which zone you live in. For example, a Dwarf Yaupon Holly shrub is hardy in zones 7-9, and the planting zone for the North Dallas area is zone 8. This means that a Dwarf Yaupon shrub should survive the freeze.
Examine Branches
A simple way to know if your shrub is still alive after a freeze is to examine the branches. First, grab a branch and bend it to test its elasticity. The shrub still has life if the branch is flexible and doesn’t snap. Second, use a sharp knife to scrape off some of the bark. If you see green, then the shrub still has life.
Check Foliage
The color and condition of a shrub’s foliage are another indicator of the plant’s viability. A darker than normal color of leaves or slimy leaves, would indicate that the shrub has some cold damage, though it may still recover with time.
Consult a Professional
Contact a local landscaper to see if they offer an on-site consultation to assess the shrub damage. If you bring an image of the shrub to a local plant nursery, the staff may be able to provide you with some advice.
Give It Time
Before replacing any shrubs, give them some time to recover. In the spring, examine the branches and foliage again to see if the plant has improved. If you see new growth, then that is the best indicator that your shrub is still alive.
Knowing your plant’s cold hardiness before a freeze comes is ideal so you can protect the shrub from frost. However, once the freeze has come and gone, take a good look at each of your shrubs to assess the damage. To survive, your shrub might go through a few changes. The foliage might brown, leaves may drop, or the entire plant might become rigid. The most important thing you can do is keep watching and wait a while for signs of renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a shrub take to recover from cold shock?
The amount of time it takes for a shrub to fully recover can range from a few months to a few years. However, it really depends on the type and size of the plant and the extent of the frost damage.
What do cold-damaged plants look like?
The foliage on a cold-damaged plant may look dark, shriveled, or burnt. The leaves may also feel mushy and wet.
When should I prune a frost-damaged shrub?
The best time to prune a frost-damaged shrub is when temperatures warm up in the spring.
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