When should i trim gardenia bushes

Wipe down the blades after cutting any diseased or infected branches, and when moving from one plant to another. If you don't disinfect your shears, you could accidentally transfer any insects or disease from one branch or plant to another.

Step back to determine the size and shape of your gardenia bush. Stand far enough away from your gardenia bush that you can see the whole thing in comparison to the area around it. Then decide what size and shape you'd like the bush to be. Once you begin pruning, step back frequently to check to make sure you're maintaining the size and shape you want. Hold the pruning shears at a degree angle to the branch. This angle will help you cut through the branches easily. It also prevents you from damaging the main branches of the bush if you get too close.

Cut away half of the oldest branches at the trunk. Cutting the oldest, thickest branches will allow space for new growth. Depending on how overgrown your gardenia bush is, you might want to trim out more than half of the oldest branches. Trim the remaining branches down to your desired height and shape. After you've thinned out the oldest branches, trim the remaining branches. As you're trimming the branches, make sure you make cuts above a stem branch or leaf node to encourage new growth there.

The leaf node is the bulge at the end of the leaf stem at the branch. Prune most where you want to encourage growth. In addition to pruning your gardenia bush to maintain its shape and size, you can prune to encourage growth in certain areas. If you prune back the bottom of the gardenia bush beyond the excess growth — up to a few inches — that area will tend to grow back fuller.

Part 3. Water your gardenias regularly. Regular watering will promote thick foliage and bloom growth. The soil around your gardenia bush should almost always be moist. How often you'll need to water your gardenia bush will depend on how dry the weather is. Fertilize your gardenia bush 2 to 3 times per year. One of the best times to fertilize your gardenia bush is after you prune it. Use a fertilizer with a a or ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging for the amount you should use, and mix it into the soil around your gardenia bush. Check for bugs on your gardenias. You should look for mealybugs, caterpillars, aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and spider mites. If you see any of these insects on your gardenia bush, try a natural remedy to remove them. If the infestation is bad, you may need to use an insecticide. For whiteflies and spider mites, try applying neem oil or insecticidal soap to your gardenia bush.

Use your hands to pick caterpillars off your gardenia bush. Addison Smith. It is best to prune your gardenia shrub right after the blooms have faded in the summer. Gardenias will set their flower buds the next year in fall, so pruning in the summer will allow you to cut back some of the older wood without the risk of cutting away newly set buds.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful The best time to transplant gardenia plants is in the fall, right after the plant has finished blooming. Gardenia plants transplant best when the weather is cool and the plant is slowing down. About a week before transplanting gardenia bushes, prune the branches back by one-quarter or one-third.

Not Helpful 2 Helpful Trim the branches by 2 to 3 inches just after flowering ends, from May to July. Do not prune any gardenia too late in the season, usually after August but as late as October in some areas.

The resulting tender green shoots will not have time to harden and will be killed by a frost or freeze. Not Helpful 81 Helpful It depends on how far along the gardenia bush is in growth.

Home Guides Garden Gardening. By Sarah Moore. Related Articles. Respecting Bud Development Because gardenia flowers form on old growth, if you hack up your shrub before the flowering period, you will likely lose most, if not all, of your blooms. Using Best Techniques For the most part, even after they have flowered, gardenias do not typically need much pruning, so avoid pruning them back hard unless there is a problem.

Removing Damaged Branches You can and should remove damaged or diseased branches at any time of year, regardless of whether or not the spring flowering has occurred. Determining Location Fitness Normally gardenias grow to a pleasing shape. References U. Post your puzzlers and help others with theirs. Start Here. Trending Posts. Today Week Month All. Cristulariella leaf spot — Bullseye Pattern on Crapemyrtle Leaves. View books. Popular topics.

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