Pruning frost-damaged ginger

One of the features of blogging is the ability to see what search phrases readers are using to find answers to questions. Lately, a lot of readers have been asking what to do about pruning back frost-damaged ginger plants. There are many types of ginger, like standard, variegated and dwarf gingers. Dwarf ginger does not bloom, but produces beautiful, full clumps of green leaves that provide impact. Mine (shown in the lower left corner of this photo) has grown so rapidly that it has filled in one whole end of a bed, circling around a tree that was damaged by the hurricane and needs a lot of help now. Each winter, at least some of the plants - those on the outermost edges - are damaged by frost and turn brown. In early spring, I trim those back mercilessly. If a leaf shows any damage, I cut it at the stem. By summer, the clumps are lush and green again. The key is to resist cutting the ugly damage back now. WAIT. If any more frost comes, the dead leaves will provide protection to the more tender inner and lower leaves.

The same is true of standard, blooming ginger. Many varieties are easily damaged by the cold, though some varieties are relatively cold-tolerant. Like dwarf ginger, most standard gingers (like the popular shell ginger) will come back the next warm season. So be patient, wait until the danger of frost is past, then trim back and wait for a renewal.