is it ok to trim trailing lantana in the heat? It has been very hot in so cal and the lower flowers are gone and is woody.

Question

Also supposed to be hardy but mine poop out after two days – very limp. Thank you for any info and time. My camera is not “connected” to computer yet. Too old for windows 10 and have not gone to website for help yet. So cannot send pictures. But the “branches” are now missing flowers and I do not want to trim because of heat unless it’s ok. Upper ones are ok and still flowering. Plant is a couple years old. Am wondering if extra
“branches” are using up water so plant wilts after a couple of days.

Answer 1

I would hold off on pruning, except for any growth that you confirm as actually dead and brittle enough to snap off when you bend a twig.

Water deeply, not just a sprinkle. Flood the entire area under the foliar spread, to try and get six to 10 inches of water penetration into the soil root zone. Mulch the soil surface with two inches of organic mulch, like compost or fir bark mulch from a garden center. Follow up with another drenching in two days, then every week through August or September Lantana is drought tolerant once it has an established root system to gather soil moisture. Until the roots are spreading far and wide, you need to give it some help with moderate watering. Not muddy wet, just adequate to stay moist and not dry out to the extreme.