2/16/2011 Pruning

by Anita Nejad
(Ft Worth TX)

We got over a couple of really hard freezes in Ft Worth, TX, got out and inspected the damages to my Gardenia shrubs they were 4 1/2 ft tall, well in-spite of my covering them with heavy gauge plastic and putting up some lights for heat throughout the freeze period, sad to say they suffered a lot of damage.I pruned them back and hope they will rebound before Mother's Day so I can enjoy the lovely scented blooms.

Farmer Dave's reply
Anita I am so sorry to hear about your garenia's I know what it feels like to get a hard freeze and have it damage or worse yet kill my plants.
Pruning back any of the dead and damaged wood, was the right thing to do. You could also lightly fertilize them, using some manure and Maxi crop which is an organic sea product high in trace minerals. I imagine they will rebound and grow more than ever if they have not been hit to hard.
I hope you have a happy and colorful mothers day.
Come back and post a picture of your flowers!
Have a great garden season
Farmer Dave