Q.Frost Bitten Sago Palm
Due to the extreme cold winter here in Houston, many of my sago palms have turned brown. Should I trim the dead fronds off in hopes the plant is still alive, and will come back?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
I would wait until spring to cut back the plant. It will help protect the new growth, just in case another freeze occurs. But, you will need to remove the yellow and brown fronds in the spring but only those as they will not come back. Do not remove green fronds. These articles will help you as well:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm
It is hard to say how well they will grow back. Sago palms do not deal well with lost fronds, but they have been known to recover fine. I would wait a whole season to see if fronds grow back.
