Up from the ashes

January/February 2008

Key to wildfire recovery is to be patient

By David Ross

While they may look dead, plants damaged by the recent wildfires may just be waiting for the right time to start growing again. Although heat generated by those fires is very different from the cold temperatures responsible for the freeze of last winter, the plants appear to have suffered the same damage, and the cure is about the same as well.

1) Most important, be patient. Wait for the plants to start growing again so you can see exactly how far back to cut the burned branches. This may mean waiting until spring for many plants. If you are certain some parts of the plant are dead, you may cut back until you hit fresh green wood, then stop.

2) Soak your damaged plants occasionally but deeply to encourage them to grow.

3) As soon as the weather warms up or you see new growth, give them a light feeding monthly to help them get back on their feet.

4) Use the opportunity to replace plants you didn’t like in the first place!

David Ross is a horticulturalist and manager for Walter Andersen Nursery in San Diego and Poway.