02/02/2023
While checking some of our grounds maintenance jobs, this is what I am seeing. Lot of freeze damage on broadleaf evergreens. We had a sudden -21°F wind chill after a spell of mild weather a month ago, right before Christmas here in West Tennessee. I believe we will be doing a lot of severe pruning late winter- early spring to remove the damage. Some will probably recover with not a lot of damage (hardy azleas, rhododendren, boxwood, hollies, most coniferous evergreens). Others (like laurels, lorapetalum, dystillium, photinia, leyland cypress) are showing signs of severe freeze damage and may have to be cut down to the ground but may sprout & suckered back (regrow) from the roots. Be patient. Wait & look for signs of life. Some plants will push off last seasons damaged leaves and form new leaf buds from which new leaves will grow. Many plants have dead tips, 2"-4" tip growth damaged. Back at 6"-8" from the tip there is live cambium cells (the reproductive cells inside the outer bark & outside the sapwood). Scrape the outer bark with a knife or your thumb nail. If it's green the plant will recover. If it's brown, Keep pruning back till you find green growth. Wait till March 15- April 15th to access if plants are severely damaged (dead, no green cambium cells) need cutting to the ground or replacing.
