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April 11, 2007
Fix for frozen foliage: A little TLC and patience
Many Charlotte Park residents decorated their yards this past Easter weekend with blankets, towels and plastic coverings. At some homes, matching hunter-green blankets blended in well with the landscape, while other neighbors showed some flair with towels featuring bright colors and geometric shapes.It was more about function than form: Residents were trying to cover their plants to protect them from the freezing weather. With temperatures now safely above freezing, I've assessed the damage in our yard and wondered what to do for wilting shrubs and the devastated crape myrtle I'm campaigning to keep, while The Captain is determined to chop it down. For months, I've said, "Just wait until spring. It will be so beautiful when it blooms."Now I gaze at the wilted leaves and wonder what I can do to revive it. In an article in today's Tennessean, experts said the best action is no action. Matt Pilcher, horticulturist at Bates Nursery & Garden Center, told the newspaper there's not a lot we can do to help the damaged trees now. He said the slow recovery will be ugly, but we should expect almost everything to bounce back.Plants showing new growth killed by the freeze may benefit from pruning and cutting off the dead foliage, according to an article posted on Bates Nursery's website Tuesday. The article, "Cold damage," said plants also will need some extra care with ample water and fertilization.And just how effective are those blankets and plastic covers? According to an article from February 2002 on the Bates Nursery site, some plants with tender new growth can benefit from covering because they are most at risk of dying in extreme circumstances. Roses, however, may not be worth covering because their thorns latch onto cloth, making it easy to break their branches when you remove the covering. Instead, just cut away the damaged areas after the freeze. According to the article, a "bit of luck" is pretty important too.To read the latest article on the nursery's website, click here. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to archived articles.
Posted by Paige Clancy
at 9:35 AM
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April 11, 2007
Fix for frozen foliage: A little TLC and patience
Many Charlotte Park residents decorated their yards this past Easter weekend with blankets, towels and plastic coverings. At some homes, matching hunter-green blankets blended in well with the landscape, while other neighbors showed some flair with towels featuring bright colors and geometric shapes.It was more about function than form: Residents were trying to cover their plants to protect them from the freezing weather. With temperatures now safely above freezing, I've assessed the damage in our yard and wondered what to do for wilting shrubs and the devastated crape myrtle I'm campaigning to keep, while The Captain is determined to chop it down. For months, I've said, "Just wait until spring. It will be so beautiful when it blooms."Now I gaze at the wilted leaves and wonder what I can do to revive it. In an article in today's Tennessean, experts said the best action is no action. Matt Pilcher, horticulturist at Bates Nursery & Garden Center, told the newspaper there's not a lot we can do to help the damaged trees now. He said the slow recovery will be ugly, but we should expect almost everything to bounce back.Plants showing new growth killed by the freeze may benefit from pruning and cutting off the dead foliage, according to an article posted on Bates Nursery's website Tuesday. The article, "Cold damage," said plants also will need some extra care with ample water and fertilization.And just how effective are those blankets and plastic covers? According to an article from February 2002 on the Bates Nursery site, some plants with tender new growth can benefit from covering because they are most at risk of dying in extreme circumstances. Roses, however, may not be worth covering because their thorns latch onto cloth, making it easy to break their branches when you remove the covering. Instead, just cut away the damaged areas after the freeze. According to the article, a "bit of luck" is pretty important too.To read the latest article on the nursery's website, click here. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to archived articles.
Posted by Paige Clancy
at 9:35 AM
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