MANAGEMENT OF HAIL-DAMAGED LANDSCAPE AND NURSERY PLANTS^©

The weather can be fickle with effects of some widespread while at other times quite localized. Hailstorms seem to travel in bands whereby a swath is cut through an area while nearby areas are untouched.
A recent spring hail event in our area resulted in a distinct Christmas-like smell that was combined with a dying plant smell (Fig. 1). While the damage can seem to be overwhelming it’s important to move quickly to clean up the site to reduce the impact of secondary infectors and infestations.
Prioritize the treatment of damaged plants. Decide which plants are beyond saving due to severe damage, those that have moderate damage but can be saved, and those that have minimal damage and will survive with limited care. The first plants to be treated should be those in the moderate damage category since immediate attention is needed and those that follow should be the minimally damaged plants. An exception might occur when a specimen plant experiences a high level of damage and “needs” to be saved.