Many friends and customers are sharing their photos of their damaged plants, like these images below. Many plants such as Laurels, Cedars, Hollies, Azaleas, Viburnums and Nandinas are just a few of the varieties that took a dramatic hit during our artic blast just before Christmas. The real problem for most of these plants, was not the cold itself, but the rapid temperature drop. If you remember, in the tristate, the temperature went from 40 degrees, down to -30 degrees in about 24 hours. When this happens, plants are not given much time to react and adjust.

During a flash freeze, like what we experienced, the water inside the cells of the plants freeze. Enough cell damage= tissue damage. Leaves typically take the most damage when this occurs. Sometimes the damage takes days to appear, while other times, it takes months.

The key, now, is PATIENCE. Do not prune. Wait. The extent of the damage will not be known until at least spring. If the stems have not been damaged, your plant may drop all of its leaves and then leaf back out. That being said, it may take a full season or 2 for plants to fully recover. Patience is key during this time.

It is too early to tell, but we will begin to see damage with deciduous plants and shrubs as well too. Their damage could be completely hidden until spring. You may start to see damage to the bark in the way of cracks or splits running up the stems or trunks.

This damage can be seen on newer, younger plants or older, more mature plants.

A reminder that this is not the plants fault, nor the landscapers. Mother nature has taken a huge toll on plants all over the mid-west and now it is our job to be patient with our plants as they work to strengthen themselves.