OUR SAGO PALMS SURIVED TEXAS WINTER BLAST

2021 TEXAS WINTER BLAST 
Several weeks ago Texans watched as snow and ice blanketed the landscapes in a series of Northern storms and blizzards.  We survived the blizzard with no electricity or water. 

Now power has been restored, water well repaired and the process of repairing damage has begun, it’s time for garden assessment.

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It is looking a little ugly across south Texas after the freezing storm.  Everything has turned brown and dead looking.  Agaves, Sago palms and other plants turned to rotting mush. Our rosemary bushes sport black branches. This unprecedented freeze damage has left even seasoned gardeners wondering what will return and what’s gone for good?  Is it dead or is it dormant?

According to the USDA Hardiness Zone map for South Texas area, our average last frost occurs between March 1 and March 31. It's usually the middle of March. But it hasn’t been a typical winter.

The most important thing right now is to wait. If you prune a dormant plant right now and warm weather stimulates growth, the new leaves will be highly susceptible if we have another freeze, and it will then die. If you wait until the danger of frost has passed, you will give your dormant plants a fighting chance.
It is the end of March and we decided to trim up the sago palms. 

One of the smaller sago palms after removing damaged leavesOur large sago palm with baby sago palms growing beside it. 
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Many gardeners enjoy the large Sago palms in their landscapes. Not actually palms, Sagos are cycads. They generally tolerate temperatures down to 15 degrees. Frost-damaged leaves turn yellow or brown and should be removed. If the trunk and leaf crown are hard wood, it should recover. If the trunk turns soft, your sago might be damaged beyond recovery. 

Our Sago palm last summer.

Male Sago Palm and Female Sago Palm

Do not eat any part of your sago palm, they contain a toxin called cycasin that can cause liver failure in humans and animals. They are ornamentals only!   

Sago palms grow slowly when confined to a pot, and it is also a favorite choice for bonsai.
Gardeners located north of the USDA Hardiness Zone 8a must grow these ancient wonders in pots and bring them indoors over the winter, but those of us in zones 8a to 11b get to enjoy them in our landscapes year-round.
When grown outdoors, Sago palms can reach a height of 10 to 12 feet, although the ones I have seen are closer to about five feet tall.
Here they are also typically allowed to fall into a spreading, half-round form, rather than the more upright, palm tree-like form that results when the lower fronds are trimmed off.
The leaves are typically about four to five feet long at maturity, reaching their greatest length when grown in partial shade. Shiny, new leaves sprout from the top of the crown in a circular pattern, located above a woody trunk.
Sago palms are poisonous to humans and pets, this is something to keep in mind if you have any dogs who likes to experiment with new chew toys.
Our dogs have never bothered our Sagos, and the spiky leaf tips act as a deterrent as well.
Happy gardening! ​

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Blessings,
Margarita & Stace