How to Recover a Frozen Lychee Tree
- Tree damage is caused when temperatures drop between 28 to 32 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. Temperatures below 24 degrees Fahrenheit causes tree death. Exposure for even a few hours causes leaf death and leaf drop. Damage to limbs, trunk and bark also occurs. Exposing a tree to cold temperatures does not harden it. Lychee trees are subtropical and should be planted in areas that do not drop below freezing.
- Assess the damage before making any attempts at recovery. Trees that have significant damage--broken limbs, split bark--over more than 50 percent of its surface will unlikely be able to recover. Less damaged trees may not be able to recover, especially if they are exposed to below freezing temperatures year after year. If the cold snap was a short and unusual one, remove the damaged limbs by pruning back up to 1/3 of the tree's growth in early spring. Ensure the tree receives adequate irrigation and fertilizer. Mulch the base of the tree. If new growth does not appear when weather warms then the tree is unable to recover.
- Avoid frozen trees by choosing a planting site that is protected from wind and able to receive full sun. Healthy trees are better able to withstand occasional adverse conditions. Mature trees, for instance, are able to withstand a light frost but young trees are not. Young trees are given temporary winter shelter in the form of windscreens and tents. Light bulbs also provide ambient warmth. Avoid planting trees at the bottoms of slopes as this is often an area that collects damp, cold fog and frost.
New growth is more susceptible to frosts than more mature branches. Protect new growth by pruning the tree before the first frost. Late season pruning eliminates non-hardy branches, making the tree better able to withstand cool temperatures. - Home gardeners have found success with the following cultivars: Kwai Mai Pink, Wai Chee and Bengal. The fruit is sweet and the trees are easy to maintain. Be aware, however, that most lychee trees may require up to 10 growing seasons before yielding a large harvest. Trees do not usually bear fruit the first year and have limited harvests for the next several years. When trees have been damaged by frost and subjected to severe pruning expect to wait several years before seeing a productive harvest.
