"Brandon" wrote in message
news:_LQJb.24492$ti2.11820@lakeread03...
I am in Gilbert Arizona( metro phoenix). Last week we experienced sub
freezing ( 22-24 degrees)temperatures for several nights. Anything potted
was brought in the house.
4 Giant Hibiscus and 3 monster Bougainvilleas and a very large Castor bean
"tree" wilted( foliage appears "burned") and have started to drop all
there
leaves.
Not a big deal , I think the bougainvilleas will come back as they are so
hard to kill : /

BUT my concern is a 15+ foot Ficus Nitida with a trunk diameter of 10+
inches...
The leaves turned purple, and then in the last day or so, they have
started
to drop in profusion. My neighbor has three like this doing the same
thing.

I am wondering if this tree has been killed. Will my homeowners insurance
cover it if it has? I have seen trees half this size at local nurseries
for
$3000.00.

Will it come back? ( will this be a good time to prune it?


They prefer temps to remain above 40F but they can tolerate light freezes.
Leaf drop is very common at this point.and is to be expected. I'd wait until
all danger of cold temperatures have passed to assess how much damage was
done and do remedial pruning at that time. How long it tolerated these
conditions will have a bearing on how well it comes back.

You need to read your policy well, but I doubt you can claim this on your
homeowners insurance. Most policies will not cover landscaping damaged due
to "acts of God". If that were the case, more northern homeowners would have
HUGE claims for all the plants that are unable to make it through their
often brutal winters. The good news is, ficus grow fast if you have to
replace it.

pam - gardengal