Q.Have a Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
My Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is in a large pot; we moved it to our new home last year and it bloomed profusely! It has weathered several “frosts” this winter and some leaves
are very dark….My husband used to take care of it, but he died last November and so I
am trying to keep it going…should I trim back these very dark leaves? Or just leave it
alone???
Thank you so much for your help…Claire (I am 87 years old and not much of a gardener as he was)….
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
The rule of thumb is to leave the frost-damaged growth until all danger of frost is past. That allows from some protective cover if you are not covering the plant otherwise.
In San Rafael, frost danger is usually over by now, middle of March. But freezes are possible until mid April. So with the weather extremes that are prevalent, I would wait until next month before selective pruning of the blackened, frost damaged foliage. At the same time, you can do a light shaping to suppress the sprawl, just head back the tips of the lateral branches by a few inches with a sharp pruning shears, That will encourage it to fill out and refoliate the damaged areas.
Fertilize spring and fall with a couple of handfuls of a complete organic fertilizer
Water management is critical during the long hot dry season. A moisture meter may help.
