A. In a freeze, the first part to show damage
is the area between the leaves’ veins. Next is leaf damage,
and next is the branch. With shrubby-type perennials, cut back damaged
branches until you hit green wood. In the case of a papaya, if the
trunk is green, it will re-sprout. A banana’s new leaves will
sprout from the top.
With tropicals, if you’re not sure if the plant is alive,
give it some time and see what happens when spring arrives. With
herbaceous perennials, it’s okay to prune them back if you
like a tidy garden look. Some people leave the brown tops to protect
the root ball.
Evergreen and woody perennials: Wait a few more weeks. Pruning now
will encourage new growth that will be nipped if we get a harsh
freeze. .
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 Eve's
necklace (Sophora affinis) -- This small
native tree is well adapted to our central Texas soils and climate.
It performs well on a wide range of soils including heavy clay.
In spring, it forms 4 – 5” light pink drooping bloom
clusters. The plant gets it name from the black seedpods. Eve’s
necklace reaches a height of 20-25 feet and a width of 15-20 feet,
making it excellent for small landscapes. The seeds are reported
to be poisonous. Eve's necklace is related to Texas Mountain Laurel
(Sophora secundiflora).
This plant needs protection from deer when it is still young and
within reach!
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- Add compost or decomposed manure as a mulch around trees and
shrubs. When spring rains arrive, they’ll release their
nutrients to the plant’s roots.
- Keep pansies, viola, stock and other winter annuals blooming
by fertilizing every 4 – 6 weeks. Scratch a balanced granular
fertilizer into the soil, or use a liquid drench.
- Plant onions now. Select pencil-sized sets and plant them one-inch
deep in rich garden soil in a sunny area. It’s important
to keep them vigorous with plenty of water and regular feeding.
The larger the plant, the larger the bulbs will be when longer
days induce them to bulb.
- Don’t delay if you want to start seeds for tomato, eggplant
and pepper transplants.
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