February is too early!

            On the outskirts of town it is predicted to get to freezing next Tuesday! That combined with the extreme records from last month could be the breaking point for a already stressed frost sensitive plat. Do not remove the dead growth on any plants yet.

            Just because your neighbor’s landscaper did it last week, do not make it the right thing to do. (Think of what your mother use to always said, “You wouldn’t jump off a bridge just because everyone else was, would you?)

            I recommend waiting until March at the earliest to address the issue. If you HOA tries to say otherwise, get on the board and change that for next year. Freezing weather is common in February and very possible in March.

            With ground covers such a lantana you can usually cut it to just above ground level. With trees you should wait for new spring growth and selectively remove just the dead branches. With shrubs you have now the plants trimming tolerance. Shrubs such as Sages and Ruellia can be cut as small as you would like to help train a smaller plant, but less tolerant plants such as hibiscus and roses you need to wait for buds and or new growth to form and selectively prune back to that.