[Arid_gardener] Re: Frozen Ficus

[Olin Miller]

The tree will probably survive but it may be a long time, if ever, before it
looks like a proper ficus tree again.  If you (and your neighbors) can stand
the sight of it, you might let it grow out more until next winter, then try
pruning to shape the tree.

As to whether the pruning that was done was the right thing to do, the best
you could have done (other than removing the tree with one that is adapted
to our climate)  was to prune out the dead wood back to where there was
still life in the branch.

Olin
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <aleidawakefield at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 8:20 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
> Joel
> 85044
> aleidawakefield at cox.net
> Hi,
> Like many others in Phoenix, our ficus trees were damaged by the frost.
> There is new growth   at the bottom of the branches and budding in the
> upper branches.  Our landscaper came last week and took off all the outer
> branches.  Right now they are trunks with the larger branches coming out,
> with no smaller branches, no dead leaves, etc.  They look like skeletons
> of what they were before.  Was this the right thing to do?  Will they
> survive?
> Joel and Aleida
=================================================
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nikesappho at hotmail.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 7:51 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
> sheryl
> 85014
> nikesappho at hotmail.com
> I have a 8 year old ficus nitidia tree, about 20 feet tall, which was
> severly damaged by frost this winter.   I have been fertilizing and water
> and have a LOT of new leaf sprouts on the major branches and trunk of the
> tree.   I have used a broom to dislodge many of the dead leaves down low
> but can't reach up high, the wind is assisting me.   How, when, how much
> do I prune back?   Help please.   Many of my neighbors have commented how
> distraught they were that my tree lost it beautiful green shape.
> Thank you,
> Sheryl