Wait to cut back cold-damaged trees until all danger of frost has passed.

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Our subtropical plants have taken a real cold-weather beating with the recent snow and subfreezing temperatures.

So what can be done now to help these frozen plants recover?

First, and most important, don't cut off cold-damaged leaves and stems on trees and shrubs. They may be unsightly, but if another cold snap occurs, those frozen leaves and stems will provide just a bit of extra cover to protect any undamaged growth below. In addition, cutting back cold-damaged parts now means that the plant will die back even further if freezing temperatures return.

On the other hand, flowers and other herbaceous plants such as geraniums, impatiens, begonias, aloes and other soft-stemmed plants should have any frozen and wilted stems removed. If left on, these damaged plant portions will rot, and this decay is likely to spread to undamaged portions of the plant.

Cut frozen tissue (leaves and stems) off cleanly with sharp scissors or hand pruners. Old, faded and frozen flowers should also be removed. Apply a liquid fertilizer to flowers and herbs to speed their recovery.

Next, any plants injured by the cold should be watered well. Cold injury causes tissue damage and resulting dehydration of the plant. If adequate moisture levels are not maintained, the plant will suffer further damage.

That's not to say that the plant should drown in excess water. Too much water can be as bad as too little. Just be sure to water plants slowly and deeply. Deep watering takes time. In terms of drip irrigation, this usually requires that the system be left on for several hours. Supplemental irrigation can also be provided with a soaker hose.

Wait to prune back cold-injured trees, shrubs and other woody-stemmed landscape plants until all danger of frost has past. In Tucson, that's typically mid-March. To determine the extent of the cold injury, use a sharp knife to peel back some of the bark on stems with frozen leaves.

If you find moist, green sapwood just underneath the bark, that stem is still alive. Live stems, even leafless ones, will sprout new leaves when temperatures warm later in the spring.

Cut dead stems all the way back to live wood. The amount you cut will vary greatly depending on the plant. For instance, lantana may have frozen back to within a few inches of the ground, making it necessary to cut the stems back severely. Other plants, such as bougainvillea and citrus, may have very little injury to the stems, requiring little or no pruning back.

If you're unsure about where to cut, wait until new growth emerges in March. This will tell you exactly where the dead parts meet the living.

Simply remove everything back to where the new growth is sprouting out.

It really doesn't hurt to leave frozen stems and branches on plants well into spring.

Finally, be prepared to protect frozen plants from further injury. Plants should be covered with sheets, blankets or frost cloth. Never cover plants with plastic.

If additional warmth is needed, place a heat source underneath the cover. Use a heat lamp or utility lamp with a 60- or 75-watt incandescent bulb.

Gardening

Advice by John P. Begeman