Well, we just experienced the 2nd coldest winter in Florida history!  (1981 still holds the record as the coldest winter. Click to read article.)  There is no further risk of a freeze or frost so, if you haven’t already pruned all your shrubs & trees, it’s okay to do it now.

1. Look for small budding new growth coming out of the bark.  This indicates that the plant is healthy below this point.  Prune just below where these buds are breaking through and your plant will produce lots of new growth from that cut point.

2. If you don't find any buds breaking through the bark, you will need to use a pocket knife to probe the plant for “green bark”.  When you shave off some bark, note its color.  If the bark is dark brown with no green, you will need to search lower on the branch to find where to prune.  If you find nice green tissue just below the bark, then the plant can be pruned at that height.

a. Some plants may be killed back to the ground.  Often, you can just cut off the stems and stalks just above-ground and the plant will produce abundant new growth from the root ball.

b. Some plants may have been killed completely and will need to be replaced.

Proper fertilization will greatly speed up the recovery of your landscaping since it has been dormant for a while.

       If you are unsure how to proceed, call our office at 1-800-LawnCare or email us and we can probably talk you through the process.  Now get to work! J