Re: Gardenia's

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Posted by Newt on September 03, 2002 at 22:30:01:

In Reply to: Gardenia's posted by Linda on September 02, 2002 at 05:05:38:

: I recently purchased an older home that has two OLD gardenia's planted outside. The trunk(s)? and branches are very very thick so I know they are about 20 years old. They have been pruned back severely and are just now starting to branch out again with leaves. Should I continue to prune these back this severly or just let them grow for a year or two?

Gardenias don't need to be pruned, so I don't know why the former owners did that. Maybe they weren't flowering or were too large for their space. It may be some time before they bloom again. I would recommend that you top dress with compost this fall and spring and use fish emulsion fertilizer in the spring.
Here's some sites that should be helpful.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Jul/12/il/il04a.html
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets2/shrubs/feb88pr2.html
http://www.gardenseeker.com/Pruning%20made%20easy.htm#Easy Pruning Guide
http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/B961-W.HTML#Technique

Hope this helped,
Newt

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: : I recently purchased an older home that has two OLD gardenia's planted outside.  The trunk(s)? and branches are very very thick so I know they are about 20 years old.  They have been pruned back severely and are just now starting to branch out again with leaves.  Should I continue to prune these back this severly or just let them grow for a year or two?

: 
: Gardenias don't need to be pruned, so I don't know why the former owners did that.  Maybe they weren't flowering or were too large for their space.  It may be some time before they bloom again.  I would recommend that you top dress with compost this fall and spring and use fish emulsion fertilizer in the spring.
: Here's some sites that should be helpful.

: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Jul/12/il/il04a.html
: http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets2/shrubs/feb88pr2.html
: http://www.gardenseeker.com/Pruning%20made%20easy.htm#Easy Pruning Guide
: http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/B961-W.HTML#Technique

: Hope this helped,
: Newt



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