Question: My pruners are yearning to get to work. All my plants look awful. Is it time to just slash everything back?
A: Whoa, whoa, take a moment to cool off. It is true that our past winter has caused lots of damage. It is also true that this spring has been a very complicated weather situation for our plants.
But please, don’t give up yet on all your shrubs. This is only the beginning of April and we may still have some weather surprises awaiting us.
Instead of assuming that every damaged plant needs to be savagely cut back, take a stroll around the garden and evaluate. This is what gardeners have been reporting to me: There’s lots of dead wood from branches broken by ice or snow. If the leaves are dead and the branches split, you can use your pruners. Cut back to any lively looking bud or stem and wait to see what develops. You may have to prune again later but your plant may recover and prosper.
Many perennials have pushed out of the soil and appear to be damaged. Don’t give up. Gently replant them with your shovel, cut back dead areas, and see if they return. Often roots are not completely dead and the plant may be smaller but it will survive.