By Sheila Dunning, Commercial Horticulture Agent, University of Florida Extension Service, Okaloosa County
Palms Can Suffer in the Cold
While palms may survive, or even thrive, for years in climates cooler than those to which they are native, eventually they might experience temperatures cold enough to cause injury. The January 21st snow and wind chill is likely to take a toll on many of the palms in Northwest Florida. We have experience with this since it also happened in January 2014 and December of 2022. Unfortunately, much of the damage in 2014 was not evident for 18-24 months and we are not out of the window for 2022. Healthy palms can hold on with stored food reserves, but repeated events can continue to weaken them.
When cold damage is severe, plant tissues are destroyed and water uptake into the plant may be reduced for years. Many times, it is only the protected bud that will remain alive. These palms can still be saved if the bud remains alive.
Winter is not over, even though the temperatures are now creeping higher and higher. So, evaluate what damage you might already have and prepare for any additional, yet to come. Here’s a reminder of what to do. One of the most common problems associated with freezes is that the freeze-killed lower portion of the spear leaf is degraded by secondary fungi and bacteria that are always present in our natural environment. Palm owners are often anxious to trim off the damaged leaves following a cold weather event. Avoid the temptation to remove these fronds until danger of additional freezes has passed. Even dead leaves provide insulation to the critical bud.
As the weather warms, the dead fronds Palm trunk decay appeared two years after 2014 freeze need to be removed from around the bud so that the spear can begin to dry out. Drenching the bud area with a copper fungicide will reduce the secondary microbes. Repeat applications will need to continue as the palm leaves develop. Copper fungicides, unlike other fungicides, are active against bacteria and fungi. Be cautious to not use a copper nutrient spray rather than a fungicide.
Delay fertilizer application until new fronds have developed. The best analysis for palms is 8-2 12 + 4Mg. Utilization of proper palm fertilization can improve cold hardiness of palms.
Crape Myrtle Pruning (Not Murder)
February is a good time to prune your crape myrtles. Pruning is necessary to correct errant growth from previous years. This means water sprouts, crossed and damaged branches and deadheading. Thin out twiggy growth for good air circulation. Cut the tips of branches to encourage more blooms. This is NOT crape myrtle murder that has been adopted by so many. When all growth is removed from crape myrtles, it only produces one very large sulky flowerhead on a very thin branch. Pruning correctly will produce more flowers that last the entire summer through fall.
Crape myrtles have a year-round look. In the spring you get fresh green growth, usually with new bird’s nests, and, in the summer, you get the beautiful flowers. Some varieties give us beautiful fall leaf color — colors we crave in the panhandle. Once the tree grows to maturity, stunning bare trunks with a variety of shades of gray and copper will appear in the winter. If your crape myrtle has been topped, nurture the strongest sprouts or cut it back to 1-2 inches to restore its health.
One more thing – the name. As an arborist I was taught to call it Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), but I have been seeing it called Crepe Myrtle for the last few years. “Crape” came from the look of the flowers, which look like crepe paper. So, it makes more sense to call it Crepe Myrtle. But old habits die hard and I shall always refer to it as Crape Myrtle. Both names are acceptable.
It is acceptable to do nothing to your trees. However, proper pruning gets you plentiful flowers all summer. Wouldn’t you love to see plenty of these flowers rather than just a few?
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