I went out and took a look at some of my lantana plants, see how
they're doing in this winter weather. They look very dead, though I
know they'll spring back to life soon. My question is can I cut them
back now, take off the scraggily branches that are enroaching on the
sidewalk? Or should I wait until early spring?

What about the long stringy branches that extend beyond the greenery
on my salvias? Can that be cut off now, or should I wait?

Thanks.

-Fleemo

If you live where I live you would clean them up, but not too hard of a prune.
It was 84 degrees beginning of this week, then it was no warmer than 33 the
following day, now it's back to normal into the 60s. So, if I cut hard now, it
could encourage growth which will be damaged. If the lantana stems are brown
through and through, you can cut them back. I forget where you are. Salvia can
all be pruned back, but the same applies to any stems which can be green. You
can encourage new growth by pruning now and leaving yourself open to damage if a
real cold snap arrives.

V


On 8 Jan 2004 19:50:52 -0800, (Fleemo) opined:

I went out and took a look at some of my lantana plants, see how
they're doing in this winter weather. They look very dead, though I
know they'll spring back to life soon. My question is can I cut them
back now, take off the scraggily branches that are enroaching on the
sidewalk? Or should I wait until early spring?

What about the long stringy branches that extend beyond the greenery
on my salvias? Can that be cut off now, or should I wait?

Thanks.

-Fleemo

On 8 Jan 2004 19:50:52 -0800, (Fleemo) wrote:

I went out and took a look at some of my lantana plants, see how
they're doing in this winter weather. They look very dead, though I
know they'll spring back to life soon. My question is can I cut them
back now, take off the scraggily branches that are enroaching on the
sidewalk? Or should I wait until early spring?

If you are talking about Miss Huff lantana I don't believe you can
hurt it by cutting it back. I removed the trash several winters and
it grew back strong. (So thick it grew almost 8' tall last year.) I
did have a few other varieties that weren't so cold tolerant and I
lost a few of those plants. One was purchased as Dallas Red, another
was similar (I don't know which is which.) and another had a varigated
leaf with yellow flowers, you might want to be more careful with those
if you have them.

Regards,

Hal Zone 8 Middle Georgia

Here in Zone 7B (North Carolina) it is recommended that Miss Huff not be cut
back until spring. Seems that water getting into the cut branches may go down
to the root system and freeze the stock. I've had a Miss Huff for four years
but never cut it back until spring based on that recommendation. Since we're
expecting to see some cold weather (11 F) tomorrow night and have snow today,
it will be interesting to see if all my "marginally hardy" plants come back
next spring.

On Fri, 09 Jan 2004 09:45:10 -0500, Hal opined:

If you are talking about Miss Huff lantana I don't believe you can
hurt it by cutting it back. I removed the trash several winters and
it grew back strong. (So thick it grew almost 8' tall last year.) I
did have a few other varieties that weren't so cold tolerant and I
lost a few of those plants. One was purchased as Dallas Red, another
was similar (I don't know which is which.) and another had a varigated
leaf with yellow flowers, you might want to be more careful with those
if you have them.

Regards,

Hal Zone 8 Middle Georgia

The 'Dallas Red' didn't do well for you? I bought several of them and I didn't
get much production from them the first year. I'm hoping for a better stand
this coming season. I don't like reds, but butterflies and hummers do. I also
have the variegated variety you mentioned. I have it in the greenhouse. That
is one beautiful plant. I had it in a container with Ipomoea 'Blackie' and that
was beautiful all summer long. It's still blooming in the g-house.

On Fri, 09 Jan 2004 18:44:15 GMT, animaux wrote:

The 'Dallas Red' didn't do well for you? I bought several of them and I didn't
get much production from them the first year. I'm hoping for a better stand
this coming season. I don't like reds, but butterflies and hummers do. I also
have the variegated variety you mentioned. I have it in the greenhouse. That
is one beautiful plant. I had it in a container with Ipomoea 'Blackie' and that
was beautiful all summer long. It's still blooming in the g-house.

I thought the varigated plant was interesting too, but I didn't
replace them after they died from the cold. I want plants I don't
have to work so hard keeping them alive. I like the reds because
they are smaller than Miss Huff and I can put them in smaller beds
without doing much work on them, but the butterflies don't seem to
notice the difference in color they go to both reds and Miss Huff
quite well. I have a swing between the beds and enjoy both during
the warm weather.

Regards,

Hal

Lavendar and "Butter and Eggs" (red or pink plus yellow() seem unstoppable in
zone 9. I don't know what's the cutoff point for Lantana as an outdoor
perennial, but these two have almost attained the vigor of weeds.
zemedelec

On Fri, 09 Jan 2004 22:30:53 -0500, Hal opined:


I thought the varigated plant was interesting too, but I didn't
replace them after they died from the cold. I want plants I don't
have to work so hard keeping them alive. I like the reds because
they are smaller than Miss Huff and I can put them in smaller beds
without doing much work on them, but the butterflies don't seem to
notice the difference in color they go to both reds and Miss Huff
quite well. I have a swing between the beds and enjoy both during
the warm weather.

Regards,

Hal

So, the reds did well, then? As for the variegated, It survived the winter last
year, but this spring I moved it into a container. It took a minute to put it
into the greenhouse, so not much work. In the spring I am going to propagate
cuttings and sell them. It's a beautiful plant.

V

On 10 Jan 2004 13:28:02 GMT, pamfree (Zemedelec) opined:

Lavendar and "Butter and Eggs" (red or pink plus yellow() seem unstoppable in
zone 9. I don't know what's the cutoff point for Lantana as an outdoor
perennial, but these two have almost attained the vigor of weeds.
zemedelec

Dallas, Zone 7a is about the cut off point for lantana as a perennial.

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 14:18:37 GMT, animaux wrote:

So, the reds did well, then? As for the variegated, It survived the winter last
year, but this spring I moved it into a container. It took a minute to put it
into the greenhouse, so not much work. In the spring I am going to propagate
cuttings and sell them. It's a beautiful plant.

It is a beautiful plant and I hope your efforts pay off. They are an
eye catcher and it wasn't unusual to have someone ask about them when
I had a couple in the front yard bed. They didn't come back after
the second winter and I replaced them with about 4x4 Encore azaleas.
The azaleas stay green all year and don't have to be cut back.

Regards,

Hal

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 10:15:51 -0500, Hal opined:

It is a beautiful plant and I hope your efforts pay off. They are an
eye catcher and it wasn't unusual to have someone ask about them when
I had a couple in the front yard bed. They didn't come back after
the second winter and I replaced them with about 4x4 Encore azaleas.
The azaleas stay green all year and don't have to be cut back.

Regards,

Hal

Azaleas don't grow in this part of the world. I mean, people insist and change
out entire beds of soil to a depth of 3 feet down. Not something I'm willing to
do. Not when I have other great native plants.
V

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 10:15:51 -0500, Hal opined:

It is a beautiful plant and I hope your efforts pay off. They are an
eye catcher and it wasn't unusual to have someone ask about them when
I had a couple in the front yard bed. They didn't come back after
the second winter and I replaced them with about 4x4 Encore azaleas.
The azaleas stay green all year and don't have to be cut back.

Regards,

Hal

Azaleas don't grow in this part of the world. I mean, people insist and change
out entire beds of soil to a depth of 3 feet down. Not something I'm willing to
do. Not when I have other great native plants.
V

On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 15:42:25 GMT, animaux wrote:

Azaleas don't grow in this part of the world. I mean, people insist and change
out entire beds of soil to a depth of 3 feet down. Not something I'm willing to
do. Not when I have other great native plants.
V

I wouldn't do that either! Lantana isn't exactly native, but it sure
attracts butterflies and serves well throughout the summer. I tried
several annuals but they wouldn't make it the full season and I'm not
doing a second planting. Encores bloom three times a year and grow
well in my area, even though they don't get as much butterfly and
hummingbird traffic they stay green in winter and work well for me.

I have a friend that has blue anise sage that is an aggressive grower
for his wife, but I can't seem to get it to grow well for me. I
tried it in a part sun bed and a full sun bed, but it doesn't seem
happy either place. Does it need a wet spot?

Regards,

Hal

On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 17:49:00 -0500, Hal opined:

I wouldn't do that either! Lantana isn't exactly native, but it sure
attracts butterflies and serves well throughout the summer. I tried
several annuals but they wouldn't make it the full season and I'm not
doing a second planting. Encores bloom three times a year and grow
well in my area, even though they don't get as much butterfly and
hummingbird traffic they stay green in winter and work well for me.


Lantana is native to where I live.

I have a friend that has blue anise sage that is an aggressive grower
for his wife, but I can't seem to get it to grow well for me. I
tried it in a part sun bed and a full sun bed, but it doesn't seem
happy either place. Does it need a wet spot?

Regards,

Hal

Is that a Carlos Lantana? ;-)

Do whatever you want.

Since Lantana flower on the new growth, you may want to trim it somewhat to
get it into shape.

If you trim it all the way to the ground, it probably won't come back.


Harvey R. Stone wrote in message
...
I live in Houston Tx. and our spring is here. The stems of my lantana are
brown but there are flowers. So should I leave it alone or trim it down?
If
I trim it should I cut it all the way to the ground?
Phyl