It is very large; about 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Each week when you water inspect the gardenia carefully for yellowing or brown leaves, broken branching or insect damage. Faithful reader, Andy, asks: "Our gardenia bushes have grown out of control and I want to prune them back. Healthy gardenia plants are better able to withstand winter weather, and will oftentimes come back stronger in spring. It's been essentially neglected for at least 10 years. While pruning isn't a necessity for a gardenia shrub, this practice comes in handy if the plant becomes overgrown or if it starts to spread outwards, becoming thin in the middle. However, it is easiest to prune them in the late winter or early spring, because all of the leaves will have fallen off and you will be able to see and access the branches easily. How to Prune a Gardenia Tree. When can I prune them back? Gardenias grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7b through 10. Cut the ends of new growth limbs with pruning shears to decrease the horizontal size of a gardenia. Thanks to its incredibly fragrant blooms, the common garden gardenia, also known as Gardenia jasminoides and cape jasmine, is a prized evergreen shrub in warm, humid portions of the southern United States. Pruning a gardenia every other year or so will be enough to keep its size manageable. My mom has an old Gardenia bush that is very overgrown and leggy. What's the best time of year to do this?" How to Prune Gardenia Veitchii Put on gardening gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges on cut limbs. Read this article to know how to prune a gardenia bush. It should still put on a lot of new growth before fall. You can prune anytime after it stops or slows down blooming. General pruning should be done in early spring before the new growth begins; this will avoid interfering with the development of the flowers. Look for for any damaged or diseased leaves or branching and cut away any that you find. Prune in late winter/early spring when your plant is winterized. Prune top limbs to control the height of a gardenia. How to Prune a Gardenia Bush in 5 Simple Steps. During early summer, the sweet fragrance of the blooms drifts throughout the garden. How to Care for Gardenias. Some gardenia varieties have more than one blooming a season, but as yours is larger than you desire pruning it now is no problem. Keep the soil consistently damp but not soggy. When is the best time to prune it back and how much should it be prunned? Cut back the branches as desired being sure to place all of your cuts 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch above a leaf node. If your plant is getting quite large I would prune it down now 1/3 to 1/2 its size. Don't let the soil dry out and don't over-water your Gardenias or the flower buds will not open and may even drop off. The best time to prune gardenias is right after it's finished blooming but before buds for next year have set. Respecting Bud Development.