Q.
What is the best way to fix frost damage to star jasmine? Give them nitrogen
and iron? Wait for warmer temps? Or replace the plant?
A.
Mild freezing damage to many plants, including star jasmine, discolors the leaf
causing it to yellow or bronze but not die. At lower temperatures the leaf may
scorch, drop from the plant or dieback and still remain on the plant.
Mild freezing damage to many plants, including star jasmine, discolors the leaf
causing it to yellow or bronze but not die. At lower temperatures the leaf may
scorch, drop from the plant or dieback and still remain on the plant.
If winds are light, cold damage during
mild freezes is more severe at distances further from the ground. The ground
can radiate heat up to the plant, keeping the lower portions from freezing, if
winds don’t continually blow it away.
mild freezes is more severe at distances further from the ground. The ground
can radiate heat up to the plant, keeping the lower portions from freezing, if
winds don’t continually blow it away.
If tender plants grow both above and
below a wall, it is not uncommon to see the top portion damaged while the parts
below the wall remain in good condition.
below a wall, it is not uncommon to see the top portion damaged while the parts
below the wall remain in good condition.
You sent me a picture of a star
jasmine used as a ground cover. In the picture, most of the discoloration from
cold is in the upper part of the plant. That discoloration is permanent to
those leaves.
jasmine used as a ground cover. In the picture, most of the discoloration from
cold is in the upper part of the plant. That discoloration is permanent to
those leaves.
You have two options; let it grow
out of it in the next couple of months and prune out some unsightly parts that
still remain or make some deep pruning cuts inside the canopy. These deep cuts
will be focused on stems with loss of leaves or discolored foliage.
out of it in the next couple of months and prune out some unsightly parts that
still remain or make some deep pruning cuts inside the canopy. These deep cuts
will be focused on stems with loss of leaves or discolored foliage.
Follow up with and all-purpose flowering
tree and shrub fertilizer and some irrigations to wash it into the root zone. I
would not replace the plants.
tree and shrub fertilizer and some irrigations to wash it into the root zone. I
would not replace the plants.