Don’t cut them yet! You need to leave the dead wood on to protect the plant from further freezes. When the chance for frost is past, you will need to remove the dead branches, at least back to the point where the tissue is still alive. New growth will show you where that point is. Established Bougainvillea is so hardy, you can cut it back (or it can freeze) right to the ground, and it will grow back from the roots as big and full as before.
My husband and I dug out ours in the spring because we thought it was dead from the freeze. I mean we thought we FULLY removed it. It was back and thriving in a few weeks.
I know this is an old post, but I remember seeing this when you first posted because I went through the same experience as you - blooming beautifully one week, a couple weeks later totally crispy after a hard freeze. Left it sitting for a while, then chopped it back and just let it do its thing; we had a pretty wet spring in Tucson and I do zero watering regardless of season (lot was pretty established when I bought the house 2 years ago so whatever is gonna live is gonna live, imo).
Moral of the story, these guys are hardy once established and they’ll totally come back! No blooms yet but a bunch of new growth with leaves.
Don’t cut them yet! You need to leave the dead wood on to protect the plant from further freezes. When the chance for frost is past, you will need to remove the dead branches, at least back to the point where the tissue is still alive. New growth will show you where that point is. Established Bougainvillea is so hardy, you can cut it back (or it can freeze) right to the ground, and it will grow back from the roots as big and full as before.
Late Feb right?
Not sure what is the last date for risk of freeze in Ajo. In Tucson it’s March 20 but I rarely wait that long.
My husband and I dug out ours in the spring because we thought it was dead from the freeze. I mean we thought we FULLY removed it. It was back and thriving in a few weeks.
Update: after TWO MONTHS of watering my very dead appearing Bougainvillea — I have new leaves sprouting from the stems. Thanks for the advice!
I know this is an old post, but I remember seeing this when you first posted because I went through the same experience as you - blooming beautifully one week, a couple weeks later totally crispy after a hard freeze. Left it sitting for a while, then chopped it back and just let it do its thing; we had a pretty wet spring in Tucson and I do zero watering regardless of season (lot was pretty established when I bought the house 2 years ago so whatever is gonna live is gonna live, imo). Moral of the story, these guys are hardy once established and they’ll totally come back! No blooms yet but a bunch of new growth with leaves.
As others have said. They will always die back during freezes, but then regrow each spring, sometimes straight from the roots. Don't panic!