Through the Winter Months

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deedeeb DeLand, FL(Zone 9b) Apr 30, 2004

This question may seem odd to all ya'll, but I would like to know about cutting dormant plants back before spring. I've lived in South Florida all my life, where there are no seasons and the plants and flowers grow and bloom all year 'round. Now that I'm living in North/Central Florida, I realize many plants seem to die in winter, but come back in the spring and many shrubs and trees need to be cut back.

If I cut plants down to the ground, i.e., hydranga, fig tree, Rose of Sharon, etc., how do these grow large and tall. I've seen excellent LARGE specimens of these and many others. I'm seriously confused. Thanks for your input.

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Apr 30, 2004

I wouldn't cut them all the way to the ground.

Our Rose of Sharon we just trim the tops a bit, mainly to encourage them to bush out more. I don't know how tall yours are but you could trim them back one-third and they'll be fine.

My figs I don't bother trimming back either. They'll be fine. In hard winter years some of the branches might die but also new growth will appear from the base of the bushes.

As you said, they are simply dormant in the cold months.

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