Gardentalk — Practice pruning patience with more resilient species

Hold on! This alder may show some cold damage on the lower portion of its branches, but it is budding with new growth and appears in overall good health.
Hold on! This alder may show some cold damage on the lower portion of its branches, but it is budding with new growth and appears in overall good health. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)

Rhododendrons, and pine and cedar trees may have suffered damage from this winter’s cold temperatures and relatively low snowfall.

Master Gardener Ed Buyarski urges patience before pruning away any apparent damage. Some species are fairly resilient and will likely rebound later this spring.

With frost penetrating so deep into the soil over the winter, some trees and plants had difficulty pulling up moisture.

“Rhododendrons, their leaves will droop and curl (while) trying to conserve moisture,” Buyarski said.

Many rhododendron leaves or spruce needles may look brown and ugly right now

Buyarski advises waiting until end of May to see whether any budding or sprouting occurs. If new buds appear, then gently pull off dead or dying leaves.

Get out the pruning shears when the damage appears to be extensive and permanent.

Listen to the May 3 edition of Gardentalk:

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