Gardenias

Hi! I live in Panama City Beach Florida (panhandle) and want to transplant a gardenia that was here when we bought the house. How and when is the best time?

Thank you,
Jane

Anne's Response:

It is usually easier to transplant a gardenia in early fall as it is going into dormancy. That allows the roots to grow during the winter so it will be able to stand the heat of summer. You may want to prune the plant back after it blooms this year so that it is a manageable size then use a sharp edged spade to root prune the plant about 4 weeks before you want to move it. Root pruning is just taking the spade and stabbing it into the ground in a circle around base of the plant just under the tips of the limbs. This forces the plant to produce a new root system.