How to Prune Gardenias

Gorgeous Gardenias bring delicate fragrance and snow-white blossoms to your garden. So how do you prune a Gardenia for best results? Just follow these steps to learn how.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Sharp pruning shears
• Gardener's loves

1. Prune occasionally. Unlike some bushes and shrubs, Gardenias actually don’t require pruning for their health. In the case of these handsome bushes, pruning is more for shape and basic maintenance. They do not need to be pruned annually.

2. Prune for size and shape. The real purpose of pruning a Gardenia is to remove any deadwood, and maintain the size and shape suitable for your garden. This also prevents your Gardenia from becoming too “leggy” (branches sticking out everywhere) and losing a visually pleasing sense of fullness.

3. Time it right. Gardenias set their flower buds for the following year during the fall. Prune after the blooms have wilted and faded away, usually mid to late summer to avoid cutting away the new buds.

4. Use sharp shears, and wear gloves. No plant likes ragged cuts. This increases the chance of infection and disease. Cut cleanly without tears or snags. Use sharp shears when pruning your gardenia. This will help to prevent jagged cuts, which can lead to disease in your Gardenia.

5. Trim any type of branch. Unlike some shrubs which put forth blossoms only on new wood, you can prune both green (new) and brown (old) wood on a Gardenia, because the shrubs set buds on both, ensuring blooms will appear no matter where you prune.

Tips & Warnings

• Double-check your variety first. While most Gardenias are once-a-year bloomers, a few can bloom more than once. You don’t want to prune prematurely.

• Some gardeners like to seal the open cuts on shrubs and bushes to minimize infection. For an environmentally friendly and child-safe option, consider using water-based Elmer’s glue.

• Don't water immediately after pruning. Give the "cut" a few hours to seal over.