Cathy Isom has some tips for us about how to tell if your trees and plants survived the winter. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Winter Plant Damage
It’s the first day of Spring, but in many areas of the country, winter is still lingering. Many may be wondering if yard plants, trees and shrubs were able to weather the storms.
“for the most part our plants are going to come through just fine.”
Kansas State University Horticulture Expert Dennis Patton says some plants may look brown and dead like and be fine, others may not. There are a couple of ways to tell if the plant or a part of the plant survived or not. First,
“just take your fingernail, and just very very lightly scratch some of the tender smaller branches or limbs on your tree and shrub and if it’s healthy underneath there that should still have a nice moist green. If it’s brown, drying, then that’s going to be winter-killed.
Another way to tell if there are buds on it. Grab one of those buds…
“and take a sharp knife and cut through that. And if that bud is nice and green inside, you’re good to go. If you cut through that and it’s black in the center or starting to dry, then that bud or chute has been winter killed.”
But Patton also advises to wait a few weeks before chopping or pulling the plant out of the ground. Because some plants just need a few weeks to show some signs of life again.
I’m Cathy Isom…