Brrr! What NOT to Prune in Winter

Right now it’s major big time pruning season here in Northern Cali. I’m cutting back hardy perennials, roses, fruit and other dormant trees and ornamental grasses.

But there are a few things I’m leaving alone for the time being. A lot of my favorite plants are frost-tender and can be killed by a stern frost this time of year. For some of these plants, the old, dead foliage and stems are providing just an extra degree or two of protection for the tender new buds and shoots coming along for next year.

Dormant Mexican Bush Sage or Salvia leucantha

See the tender new shoots inside? The old stems help protect them from frost damage.

If you can hold off, don’t prune these frost-tender plants until after last frost, which here in Humboldt County is around mid-March:

Salvia leucantha or Mexican Bush Sage (and other tender sages)

Fuchsia thymifolia or Fairy Fuchsia

Lemons and other citrus

Brugmansia/ Datura or Angel’s Trumpet

Loropetalum chinense or Fringe Flower

Ginger

Tibouchina urvilleana or Princess Flower

Passiflora or Passionflower Vines

Pelargoniums or traditional Geraniums (Hardy Cranesbills/ true Geraniums are fine to cut back now)

Polystichum polyblepharum or Tassel Fern

Dicksonia antarctica or Tasmanian Tree Fern

Further reading:

Pam Penick from Digging has some tips on what to do with tender plants and particularly Agaves that have frozen and become mushy.

Rebecca Sweet from Gossip in the Garden has a great tutorial on protecting tender plants from the cold.

Tagged as: Pruning, Winter