Citrus > Citrus General Discussion

Dealing with Cold Damage

(1/3) > >>

SonnyCrockett:
Well, we had a nice long warm period in January and February (high 70s and no freezes) followed by sudden hard freezes - three in a week.  Most of my plants had broken dormancy and flushed out, so I lost a lot of blooms and tender green growth in the freeze.  I threw some plastic sheeting over my trees, but I'm assuming they got too hot during the day, then cooled down too quickly at night, since a few trees had bark cracking on smaller braches.

Do you guys have any suggestions for helping my trees recover?   It's mostly fried leaves on top and some small twigs, nothing too serious.

Citradia:
I'd say what damage is done, is done, and the trees will put out new growth around the dead branches as the weather warms again. Just don't want to prune off the dead stiff until no more threat of freeze. I had 14 and 16 degrees for lows for a few days last week and many hours below freezing this whole month with new growth started on some citrus in late February ye to the warm winter. I have to cover my citrus, except citranges, with 4 mil plastic and put small space heaters in each enclosure to keep the new growth from freezing. You have to uncover the trees during the day to keep temps from getting too high which just helps them to break dormancy even more. I didn't cover mine last night and it got down to 31 degrees but didn't loose any new growth or new flower buds. Before and after a freeze, make sure trees well watered. I'd say if new growth is already there, you have to try to keep it from freezing or won't get any flower or fruit that year.

Millet:
In treating trees severely injured by cold, three courses of action are open. (1) Leave the tree alone: (2) cut the tree back to the ground: (3) cut the tree back part way.  Everything considered, leaving the tree alone is always the best plan.  For some time following a freeze-injury it is impossible to determine how much pruning should be undertaken.  If cut back to the ground, more of the tops may be removed than necessary, and if headed back part way they may have to be pruned over again at a later date..   There is no need for haste.  nothing can save trees or parts that have been frozen.  Much expense and labor is prevented by waiting until the extent of the injury can be determined. This cannot be decided until the new growth starts. (Cultivation Of Citrus Fruits--  Author Hume)

SonnyCrockett:
I wasn't sure if I should give a little fertilizer to encourage growth or hold off.

countryboy1981:
I would add fertilizer to encourage growth if the threat of cold injury has passed.  Although it was an overall warm winter here, we had one really cold night that dipped down to 20 degrees and caused mainly leaf damages with a few small twig injuries to some trees (which were not dormant at the time).  Now that it has all passed i put down fertilizer to get the trees to grow again. 

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page