[Andy]

Hello All,

My Acacia Dealbata ( about 4 years old, 3 of which were in a pot ), 9 foot
tall, has suffered in the late frost. It's leaves are all drooping and going
a brown colour.

Anyone else have the same problem? Is the tree likely to be dead or might it
regrow new leaves? I have seen websites saying they can withstand several
degrees of frost, but younger trees are less hardy, and anyway, we had a lot
of degrees of frost.

Andy ( Plymouth )

[Sacha[_3_]]

On 26/1/09 14:43, in article , "Andy"
wrote:

Hello All,

My Acacia Dealbata ( about 4 years old, 3 of which were in a pot ), 9 foot
tall, has suffered in the late frost. It's leaves are all drooping and going
a brown colour.

Anyone else have the same problem? Is the tree likely to be dead or might it
regrow new leaves? I have seen websites saying they can withstand several
degrees of frost, but younger trees are less hardy, and anyway, we had a lot
of degrees of frost.

Andy ( Plymouth )


Andy, ours in the garden have succumbed. But in the manner of Acacias,
never say 'never'. There's always a chance they'll sprout from the root.
Just make 100% sure yours are well drained and that, from now on, they're
protected from frost Ray takes old compost bags and pops them over
worrisome plants. A bin liner or two might do that for you, perhaps?

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)

[Sambo]

Originally Posted by Andy

Hello All,

My Acacia Dealbata ( about 4 years old, 3 of which were in a pot ), 9 foot
tall, has suffered in the late frost. It's leaves are all drooping and going
a brown colour.

Anyone else have the same problem? Is the tree likely to be dead or might it
regrow new leaves? I have seen websites saying they can withstand several
degrees of frost, but younger trees are less hardy, and anyway, we had a lot
of degrees of frost.

Andy ( Plymouth )

Had a look at a 22'+ Acacia dealbata I planted in a clients new rural garden 3 years ago as an 6'-8' 20 Ltr pot grown spec. It has turned completely brown, although it might have something to do with it apparently blowing over and remaining unnoticed in late december, after the guide ropes snapped. These trees are unstable at the best of times and you can't plant them too young as u know they're not hardy young! I'm hoping it will recover from the juicy looking nodes on the trunk. Its been pretty stressed to its limit but they are tough weed trees. Its trunk is 6" across @ 1m height to give you some indication, but the bark is still thin and immature as its basically still a young tree that just grew fast! A few 8' specimens I planted out last year have browned but there is some green in there in some of them, others not, but I reckon they will recover just fine.

It must of been really cold here over early January eh? I only got back to the UK a week ago and I'm still discovering more carnage, pleasantly surprised overall though, especially by plants I would have though would have succumbed.

As I remember from a few years back I did have a lingering 5' plant (3-5cm girth) in a 15 Ltr pot go completely brown from frost damage but it did recovery from the trunk and the base of some branches, the pot used to regularly freeze on that one as it was parked next to a rural field and sometimes didn't thaw out for weeks at a time. So I wouldn't worry about the roots freezing, but give it water if it does start to shoot. That same Acacia suffered irregular watering and neglect by me in the summer. It used to regularly drop every one of all its leaflets off all the leaves when the compost went to dust, but always recovered after a good soaking a bucket! As frost damage to around -7 or 8C is physiologically similar in many ways to a drought scenario I'd be inclined to think it will recover.

They'd all be better off in the ground in the sun so they can make some real progress!!

[Sambo]

Oh and don't let the roots freeze if you are watering them! Only leave them unprotected if they are well neglected and well drained, try and forget about them until early Spring!!!

I know dealbatas can tolerate occasional overnight -7 - -8 degrees in Adelaide and Mount Gambia, South Australia but then this isn't prolonged and its usually above zero during the day and they also have a long, hot summer to build up their sugar-alcohol levels so they are probably better equiped to supercool and avoid freeze damage freeze going into the winter.

From what I gather we got a prolonged frost of -11 degrees+ to -1 degrees around here (Salisbury, Wiltshire) that lasted for over a week in early January.

This snow isn't even touching them now but! They are even looking slightly heathier than they did a few weeks ago.

I was doing some planting in Virginia, USA over the winter as a favour and it was the only oppotunity I had to plant all year. Pot grown Pittosporum tobira dwarfs, Raphiolepsis indica and huge Lagerstromia 'Muskogee' transplants, Liriope muscari and Mondo grass (Liriope japonicus) liners. It was 5 degrees when I planted and everything was frozen from the night before when it got down to -11 degrees which is unusally low for over there, even though I had made an effort to protect them. I had to dethaw the plants by soaking them in a bin of water before planting and mulching! 1 month later and no sign of any damage so I'm told. But remember they were grown in a climate with a very hot and humid summer however!

Wish we had hot enough summers to get Crepe Myrtles to flower over here, all we get is rain, sleet, fog and low cloudcover all year!!

Let us know how your Acacias get on, with this thread.

[Sambo]

Oh and don't let the roots freeze if you are watering them! Only leave them unprotected if they are well neglected and well drained, try and forget about them until early Spring!!!

I know dealbatas can tolerate occasional overnight -7 - -8 degrees in Adelaide and Mount Gambia, South Australia but then this isn't prolonged and its usually above zero during the day and they also have a long, hot summer to build up their sugar-alcohol levels so they are probably better equiped to supercool and avoid freeze damage freeze going into the winter.

From what I gather we got a prolonged frost of -11 degrees+ to -1 degrees around here (Salisbury, Wiltshire) that lasted for over a week in early January.

This snow isn't even touching them now but! They are even looking slightly heathier than they did a few weeks ago.

I was doing some planting in Virginia, USA over the winter as a favour and it was the only oppotunity I had to plant all year. Pot grown Pittosporum tobira dwarfs, Raphiolepsis indica and huge Lagerstromia 'Muskogee' transplants, Liriope muscari and Mondo grass (Liriope japonicus) liners. It was 5 degrees when I planted and everything was frozen from the night before when it got down to -11 degrees which is unusally low for over there, even though I had made an effort to protect them. I had to dethaw the plants by soaking them in a bin of water before planting and mulching! 1 month later and no sign of any damage so I'm told. But remember they were grown in a climate with a very hot and humid summer however!

Wish we had hot enough summers to get Crepe Myrtles to flower over here, all we get is rain, sleet, fog and low cloudcover all year!!

Let us know how your Acacias get on, with this thread.

[Judith in France]

On Jan 27, 12:17*am, Sacha wrote:
On 26/1/09 14:43, in article , "Andy"

wrote:
Hello All,

My Acacia Dealbata ( about 4 years old, 3 of which were in a pot ), 9 foot
tall, has suffered in the late frost. It's leaves are all drooping and going
a brown colour.

Anyone else have the same problem? Is the tree likely to be dead or might it
regrow new leaves? I have seen websites saying they can withstand several
degrees of frost, but younger trees are less hardy, and anyway, we had a lot
of degrees of frost.

Andy ( Plymouth )

Andy, ours in the garden have succumbed. *But in the manner of Acacias,
never say 'never'. *There's always a chance they'll sprout from the root.

[[email protected]]

In article ,
Judith in France wrote:

I have Acaias in my garden but as there are several types, I'm unsure
which one it is. It's certainly not the one I had in UK which had
little yellow fluffy flowers and was planted direct into a planting
hole in a conservatory, that was not hardy, hence it was grown
inside. The ones I have here are as tough as old boots, they have to
be, when they are in leaf and flower about May, I will post a photo
and perhaps someone can identify them for me.

As far as I know, none are hardy in the colder parts of the UK.
This winter is going to see off a LOT of the more tender plants
that people have been putting in over the past decade.

I shall have to see if my Erythrina crista-gallis, Albitzia
julibrissin and pomegranate (in a pot) come through. The feijoa
(also in a pot) may also have trouble if it gets much colder.

My Ipomea indica in the bed definitely won't - but it didn't do
anything much this year and only just came through last winter.
It was worth a go as it layers readily!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

[Charlie Pridham[_2_]]

In article ,
says...
In article ,
Judith in France wrote:

I have Acaias in my garden but as there are several types, I'm unsure
which one it is. It's certainly not the one I had in UK which had
little yellow fluffy flowers and was planted direct into a planting
hole in a conservatory, that was not hardy, hence it was grown
inside. The ones I have here are as tough as old boots, they have to
be, when they are in leaf and flower about May, I will post a photo
and perhaps someone can identify them for me.

As far as I know, none are hardy in the colder parts of the UK.
This winter is going to see off a LOT of the more tender plants
that people have been putting in over the past decade.

I shall have to see if my Erythrina crista-gallis, Albitzia
julibrissin and pomegranate (in a pot) come through. The feijoa
(also in a pot) may also have trouble if it gets much colder.

My Ipomea indica in the bed definitely won't - but it didn't do
anything much this year and only just came through last winter.
It was worth a go as it layers readily!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The first lot of serious cold in January took us down to an unexpected
-9c and as you predict above many plants I thought would be "OK" have
gone even those with wall protection have not escaped but the Feijoa
(Acca) is absolutely untouched dispite being freestanding given that I
have lost most of my Phormiums you can tell its been very cold here.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

[[email protected]]

In article ,
Charlie Pridham wrote:

The first lot of serious cold in January took us down to an unexpected
-9c and as you predict above many plants I thought would be "OK" have
gone even those with wall protection have not escaped but the Feijoa
(Acca) is absolutely untouched dispite being freestanding given that I
have lost most of my Phormiums you can tell its been very cold here.

So far my Feijoa has, too - and it's in a large pot. We shall see
how many come through the spring. It does seem that Feijoa has been
regarded as more tender than it is for many years.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

[Sacha[_3_]]

On 8/2/09 08:37, in article ,
"Charlie Pridham" wrote:

In article ,
says...
In article
,
Judith in France wrote:

I have Acaias in my garden but as there are several types, I'm unsure
which one it is. It's certainly not the one I had in UK which had
little yellow fluffy flowers and was planted direct into a planting
hole in a conservatory, that was not hardy, hence it was grown
inside. The ones I have here are as tough as old boots, they have to
be, when they are in leaf and flower about May, I will post a photo
and perhaps someone can identify them for me.

As far as I know, none are hardy in the colder parts of the UK.
This winter is going to see off a LOT of the more tender plants
that people have been putting in over the past decade.

I shall have to see if my Erythrina crista-gallis, Albitzia
julibrissin and pomegranate (in a pot) come through. The feijoa
(also in a pot) may also have trouble if it gets much colder.

My Ipomea indica in the bed definitely won't - but it didn't do
anything much this year and only just came through last winter.
It was worth a go as it layers readily!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The first lot of serious cold in January took us down to an unexpected
-9c and as you predict above many plants I thought would be "OK" have
gone even those with wall protection have not escaped but the Feijoa
(Acca) is absolutely untouched dispite being freestanding given that I
have lost most of my Phormiums you can tell its been very cold here.

It's extraordinary, Charlie. You've had it worse than we have here, so near
Dartmoor and yet you're supposed, if anything to have a milder time of
winter in Cornwall. This has been a very peculiar winter where snow and ice
are concerned and it doesn't sound as if it's over yet. In fact, having
written that I looked out of the window and it's now sleeting.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

[Judith in France]

On Feb 7, 5:49*pm, wrote:
In article ,
Judith in France wrote:



I have Acaias in my garden but as there are several types, I'm unsure
which one it is. *It's certainly not the one I had in UK which had
little yellow fluffy flowers and was planted direct into a planting
hole in a conservatory, that was not hardy, hence it was grown
inside. *The ones I have here are as tough as old boots, they have to
be, when they are in leaf and flower about May, I will post a photo
and perhaps someone can identify them for me.

As far as I know, none are hardy in the colder parts of the UK.
This winter is going to see off a LOT of the more tender plants
that people have been putting in over the past decade.

I shall have to see if my Erythrina crista-gallis, Albitzia
julibrissin and pomegranate (in a pot) come through. *The feijoa
(also in a pot) may also have trouble if it gets much colder.

My Ipomea indica in the bed definitely won't - but it didn't do
anything much this year and only just came through last winter.
It was worth a go as it layers readily!

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Am I right in thinking Cambridge enjoys the same climate as Norwich?
If so, I can understand you losing plants this winter which have
survived other winters.

Judith

[Judith in France]

On Feb 8, 11:10*am, Sacha wrote:
On 8/2/09 08:37, in article ,



"Charlie Pridham" wrote:
In article ,
says...
In article
,
Judith in France wrote:

I have Acaias in my garden but as there are several types, I'm unsure
which one it is. *It's certainly not the one I had in UK which had
little yellow fluffy flowers and was planted direct into a planting
hole in a conservatory, that was not hardy, hence it was grown
inside. *The ones I have here are as tough as old boots, they have to
be, when they are in leaf and flower about May, I will post a photo
and perhaps someone can identify them for me.

As far as I know, none are hardy in the colder parts of the UK.
This winter is going to see off a LOT of the more tender plants
that people have been putting in over the past decade.

I shall have to see if my Erythrina crista-gallis, Albitzia
julibrissin and pomegranate (in a pot) come through. *The feijoa
(also in a pot) may also have trouble if it gets much colder.

My Ipomea indica in the bed definitely won't - but it didn't do
anything much this year and only just came through last winter.
It was worth a go as it layers readily!

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The first lot of serious cold in January took us down to an unexpected
-9c and as you predict above many plants I thought would be "OK" have
gone even those with wall protection have not escaped but the Feijoa
(Acca) is absolutely untouched dispite being freestanding given that I
have lost most of my Phormiums you can tell its been very cold here.

It's extraordinary, Charlie. *You've had it worse than we have here, so near
Dartmoor and yet you're supposed, if anything to have a milder time of
winter in Cornwall. *This has been a very peculiar winter where snow and ice
are concerned and it doesn't sound as if it's over yet. *In fact, having
written that I looked out of the window and it's now sleeting.
--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

Two days ago Sacha, here in the Auvergne, we had blue skys and I went
for a walk celebrating that the snow may well be over. No, it's back
again with a vengence and bitterly cold. The damage to some of my
trees is awful with broken branches and some of the evergreens will
need massive reshaping. I am rather fed up with it as I get stir
crazy on days like this.

Judith

[Sacha[_3_]]

On 8/2/09 11:21, in article
, "Judith in
France" wrote:

On Feb 8, 11:10*am, Sacha wrote:
On 8/2/09 08:37, in article ,



"Charlie Pridham" wrote:
snip

The first lot of serious cold in January took us down to an unexpected
-9c and as you predict above many plants I thought would be "OK" have
gone even those with wall protection have not escaped but the Feijoa
(Acca) is absolutely untouched dispite being freestanding given that I
have lost most of my Phormiums you can tell its been very cold here.

It's extraordinary, Charlie. *You've had it worse than we have here, so near
Dartmoor and yet you're supposed, if anything to have a milder time of
winter in Cornwall. *This has been a very peculiar winter where snow and ice
are concerned and it doesn't sound as if it's over yet. *In fact, having
written that I looked out of the window and it's now sleeting.
--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

Two days ago Sacha, here in the Auvergne, we had blue skys and I went
for a walk celebrating that the snow may well be over. No, it's back
again with a vengence and bitterly cold. The damage to some of my
trees is awful with broken branches and some of the evergreens will
need massive reshaping. I am rather fed up with it as I get stir
crazy on days like this.

Judith

"They" are telling us there's more snow on the way here but in reality,
we're not taking anything for gospel! We've had a lot of snow for us but
that means very little indeed by comparison with the rest of the country.
Matthew did start up the heating in the tunnels just in case we had a really
huge dump of snow because it's dangerous for the polythene but it didn't get
near that point. Last night went down to -1 while -4 was predicted. I
don't know if it went that low in other parts of Devon, though.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

[[email protected]]

In article ,
Sacha wrote:

It's extraordinary, Charlie. You've had it worse than we have here, so near
Dartmoor and yet you're supposed, if anything to have a milder time of
winter in Cornwall. This has been a very peculiar winter where snow and ice
are concerned and it doesn't sound as if it's over yet. In fact, having
written that I looked out of the window and it's now sleeting.

That's what happened in 1962-3, too. It hasn't been very cold in
Cambridge, though it has been colder than any sustained period for
the past decade.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

[[email protected]]

In article ,
Judith in France wrote:

Am I right in thinking Cambridge enjoys the same climate as Norwich?
If so, I can understand you losing plants this winter which have
survived other winters.

More like Bedford - we have the nearest to a continental climate
that Britain possesses, though it's still very maritime, of course.
Norwich is more maritime than we are.

This year, the lows have actually been fairly high (no more than
-5 or -6), but we haven't had a sustained period of near-freezing
days for a decade. We used to get much colder conditions, which
may still return (e.g. -5 in the day, -10 at night, for several
days).


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.