Time to Trim Gingers

Florida had a mild winter. Well, West Central Florida did anyway. It was even milder than last year and last winter was mild. Anything that didn't get trimmed in the fall actually put on new growth due to our warm soil and gloriously warm winter sunshine.

Shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet var.) in my front garden BEFORE I trimmed it.

I started my spring pruning in early February. I know we are supposed to wait, but I had big faith we wouldn't have a freeze at that point. It seems pretty safe to start trimming in protected areas. You know, the places under large oak trees where plants are mostly insulated from the cold anyway. My shell gingers in the front garden as well as the back garden are rarely affected by cold because of the trees.

If you haven't already trimmed your shell ginger plants, now is the time to do it. Buds for their late-April/early-May bloom will be forming soon so you probably don't want to wait any longer.

After their trim.

Here's a link to a step by step how-to trim these gingers I wrote previously with lots more info on these lovely perennials. Enjoy your spring garden and your spring clean up. I am loving our Florida cool nights/mornings this week. I hope you are too!

Happy gardening,
Meems