Jan. 14, 2010

Here's Randy's Weekly KTRH GardenLine Tip:

Issue #146

One way to look at damage from the early January freeze of '10, is as a great opportunity to re-landscape.

I'm not being flippant ... I personally am going to use this opportunity to do some new things in my own landscape.

In thinking of ways to ease everyone's frigidly induced landscaping angst, I recalled the somewhat biblical phrase attributed to King Solomon - "This too shall pass!"

The wisdom in its meaning is revealed in the story. I'm not sure if you know it, but let's just say that at one time King Solomon feared the good times would come to an end too soon, and he worried the bad times would only stick around. Because true satisfaction can only be found when one recognizes wealth for what it is.

We have a wealth of gardening abilities along the Texas Gulf Coast, and what has happened since Dec. 4 and 5 is not the end of our horticultural world.

It's been over 20 years since this area has suffered a damaging freeze like the one we've just endured. That's two decades of being able to dabble in all kinds of semi-tropical and downright tropical gardening escapades that folks in very few other states can even think of trying. We are normally blessed with the ability to garden 11 months out of the year! So, take this one on the chin, and get set to re-work some of your landscape elements this spring and summer. Because THIS TOO SHALL PASS! And it should be years until something like it happens again.

With that said, I've compiled some web links that will help in your recovery and answer some of your questions.

Let's start with the TIP SHEET we did less than a month ago following the December snow. It all still applies to freeze-damaged plants in Houston-area landscapes.

And, we have a few links specific to palm trees. They seem to be a big concern for many people this year. (They are for Florida residents, but they're applicable here, too.)

Treatment for Your Cold-Damaged Palms

Care for Palms After a Frost

Treating Cold-Damaged Palms

Another area of big concern is damaged fruit trees. The best advice I can give anyone with citrus trees is to be careful until at least March 1, or when you're sure we are done with freezing weather. Here are a couple of links you may find helpful.

Rehabilitation of Freeze-Damaged Citrus, Avocado and other Sub-Tropical Fruit Trees

Assessing Frost Damage to Fruit Buds of Fruit Trees

GardenLine Listeners and E-mail Tip subscribers: Purchase a copy of my new book,
Gulf Coast Gardening with Randy Lemmon, at a discount!

Garden retailers interested in stocking the book, should call NitroPhos at 713-228-1868 for wholesale information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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