How to prune gardenias

1. Pruning time

Summer is its vigorous growth period, so it is easy to cause excessive growth, so it is necessary to trim it appropriately at this time. After the flowering period, when the gardenia is about to enter a dormant period, it also needs to be pruned. Therefore, there are two pruning periods for gardenias: one is between May and July in summer, and the other is around December when winter is about to pass.

2. Growth period

The workload during the period from budding to the cessation of new branch growth is not large, and mainly involves light pruning, which can prevent the new branches from growing too fast. We can also cut off some of the flower branches at the top to promote the development of side branches and provide conditions for the formation of flower buds later. When it enters the stage of vigorous growth, it is necessary to properly trim the messy, overlapping flower branches, parallel branches, malnourished weak branches, cross branches, etc. to ensure that the remaining strong branches can get sufficient nutrients.

3. Dormant period

(1) Pruning: This is to cut off the annual flower branches to adjust the relationship between growth and fruiting. For young plants, slight pruning is adopted, while for diseased and weak branches on adult plants, heavy pruning is adopted to stimulate the germination and growth of lateral buds after wintering.

(2) Thinning branches: Cut off the branches on the crown from the base of the branches. Some dead branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, unnecessary drooping branches, crossed branches, overlapping branches, etc. need to be cut off. After cutting off, the sunlight exposure will increase, which is beneficial to the growth of plants.

(3) Pruning: This is a method of shortening flower branches. It is aimed at flower branches that are two years old or older. They are appropriately shortened to adjust the balance of the plant.