What to Prune After a Freeze: Garden Guy’s Tips for Houston Homeowners

What to Prune After a Freeze: Garden Guy’s Tips for Houston Homeowners

By Todd Farber, Aggie Horticulturist and Expert Landscaper

Houston’s winters can be unpredictable, and when a freeze hits, your garden may look worse for wear. But before you grab your pruning shears, it’s important to know what you should and shouldn’t prune. Here’s my expert advice to help your plants recover and thrive.

🌱 Do Prune: The Mushy and Damaged

After a freeze, plants like tropicals or tender perennials may show signs of severe damage. Look for:

• Mushy Leaves and Stems: Soft, waterlogged tissues that have turned brown or black. These can lead to rot if left on the plant.

• Broken Branches: Branches that have snapped under the weight of ice or snow should be removed promptly to prevent further damage.

How to Prune:

• Use clean, sharp pruning shears to remove mushy or broken areas.

• Cut back to a healthy part of the plant where the tissue is firm and green.

• Dispose of pruned material to avoid spreading disease.

🪵 Don’t Prune: Woody Plants

For woody shrubs, trees, and perennials, patience is key. These plants may look damaged but often have healthy tissue hidden beneath the surface. Examples include:

• Citrus Trees

• Bougainvillea

• Texas Sage

Why Wait?

• Premature pruning can expose the plant to additional stress if another freeze occurs.

• Woody plants often recover from their base or main branches, even if the tips look dead.

Instead, perform a scratch test to check for green tissue beneath the bark (see our guide on how to perform a scratch test). Leave the plant alone until new growth emerges in the spring.

🌟 Get Our Houston Garden Tips for FREE! 🌱
👉 Click here for expert advice and tips tailored to your garden! Let’s help your plants thrive no matter the season! 💚

📋 General Post-Freeze Tips

1. Be Patient: Some plants may take weeks to show signs of recovery. Don’t remove a plant unless you’re certain it’s dead.

2. Add Mulch: Protect roots by applying a fresh layer of mulch around the base of plants to moderate soil temperature.

3. Avoid Fertilizing: Hold off on fertilizing until new growth appears. Fertilizing too early can stress the plant.

4. Water Carefully: Only water if the soil is dry—avoid overwatering freeze-damaged plants.

🌟 Which Plants Need the Most Attention?

• Tropicals: Banana trees, hibiscus, and plumeria are often the first to show damage. Prune mushy stems, but leave the base intact for potential regrowth.

• Perennials: Lantana, salvias, and firebush may die back to the ground but usually return in spring.

• Succulents: Remove any mushy leaves but avoid cutting into the plant’s core.

📞 Need Help with Your Garden? Contact Garden Guy Today!

📸 Send us pictures of your plants for FREE advice! Whether your plants look dead or are just dramatic, we’re here to help. Share your photos and let us guide you back to a thriving garden.

Freeze recovery can be tricky, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Garden Guy, we specialize in helping Houston homeowners restore and maintain their landscapes.

👉 Click here to schedule a consultation

💚 Let’s work together to bring your garden back to life and make it thrive year-round!

#FreezeRecovery #HoustonLandscaping #PruningTips #GardenGuy #HoustonPlants