[Arid_gardener] Re: Frozen Ficus

[Olin Miller]

Ornamental Ficus trees planted outdoors in the Phoenix include the Indian
Laurel Fig (Ficus microcarpa nitida), Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina),  Rubber
Plant (Ficus elastica) and Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata).  Edible Figs like
Black Mission, Brown Turkey and Kadota Figs (Ficus carica spp.) are
deciduous, cold hardy trees and are not affected by our worst freezes.

The most common ornamental ficus tree planted in our landscapes is the
Indian Laurel Fig.  The questions as to what to do about the frozen ficus
probably refer to this tree.  It is usually frost hardy down to about 32
deg. F when leaf burn appears at the leaf tips.  Branches will also freeze
as the temperatures drop.  Back in 1988 between Christmas and New Years Day
we experienced lows of around 24 degrees for several days and many young
ficus nitida trees did not survive.  Again in December 1990 we had a 23
degree low.  This information can be easily verified at the AZMET website.
The freezing 21 deg. lows such as we experienced this past January are
infrequent but not unexpected and the ficus nitida tree should not be
planted if one is not willing to replace it when it freezes.

As to the questions about what to do with your frozen tree, it depends on
the age of the tree, the size of the tree, where it is located, the severity
of the freeze and whether you are willing to replace it with another ficus
or with one that is better suited to our climate and has a less invasive
root system.  If the trunk size is less than about 8 inches and most of the
branches are also dead, it may live but will probably never look like a
proper ficus tree.  For larger trunk sizes, if there are still live 
branches,
the tree will probably recover but it might take a long time, if ever,
before it looks like a proper ficus tree again.  Then it will still be
susceptible to our next hard freeze.  If I had a freeze-damaged ficus I
would cut my losses and take it out.  Note there are probably a lot of
people who would not agree with me.

Ficus benjamina is usually grown as a house plant in the winter and as
potted patio plant the rest of the year until it gets too large.  When
planted out in the ground it usually gets freeze burn on the leaves at about
30 deg.   F. lyrata also starts to freeze at about 30 deg. but is seldom
planted out because the stem and branches are more succulent and thus more
susceptible.  As to F. elastica, ours are planted in an uncovered in a north
patio and this year the one in a container froze but the one in the ground
only froze down to about 18 inches with three live leaves.

Olin
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <r.k.ratcliff at att.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 7:52 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


>
> 85345
> r.k.ratcliff at att.net
>
> What is the recommended method for treating freeze damaged ficus trees.
> Green still visible when scratching the bark.
>
> Prune all dead matter? Do nothing?  I've been told that they will leaf
> again next year??  Also, been told they need to be removed/replaced.
>
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dcondello at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 9:31 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


>
> 85381
> dcondello at cox.net
>
> Will the ficus trees tgat were frozen this winter come back to life?
>
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Original Message ----- 
From: <fjbaldwin at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 2:29 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Fred Baldwin
> 85259
> fjbaldwin at cox.net
>
> The leaves on my ficus trees are totally brown after the winter frost.
> Should I trim the dead leaves and if so is this a good time to do it
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "S" <s at mccordconstruction.com>
To: <arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 2:57 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Ficus nitida frost recovery


I have a Complex with many 40+ year old Ficus nitida pruned to 14' x 10'
round shape in Palm Springs ,CA that were killed back by this years
heavy frost.  My question is should they be cut back now or leave the
dead branching structure to help shade the main trunk that will sprout
new growth from the 115+ summer heat , and prune in the fall ??
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Carolinarico89 at hotmail.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2007 9:24 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Rick
> 85226
> Carolinarico89 at hotmail.com
>
> We have a ficus tree thats about 11 years old and was damaged by frost
> this winter (like everybody else in the valley!)Anyway, just starting to
> see some new growth in the lower tunk areas.  My question is, do i trim
> all the dead leaves and branchs back, or leave it alone until i see how
> much of it recovers?
>
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dirtkicker6 at aol.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 9:32 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Kim Snyder
> 85258
> dirtkicker6 at aol.com
>
> My two Nikita Ficus trees in my back yard are completely brown - they are
> each over two stories tall! I see a few signs of new growth on the lower
> parts of the trucks trying to emerge. But no signs of the brown leaves
> falling or new leaf growth in any of the limbs. Please advise what to do!!
> Thanks very much. Kim Snyder
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