News Article for May 25, 2009:
Gardenias are in bloom now, and their fragrance permeates the air around them. I smell the blooms many times driving down the road with the window down even though I cannot see the plants. Few other plants give off that much fragrance.
Gardenias are a summer-blooming, evergreen shrub that is an old Southern garden favorite. Many people know them as cape jasmine.
There is a larger version of the gardenia that will average 4-5’x5’ and can get up to 8’x8’ depending on variety. The most popular variety in the trade today is probably Frost Proof, which is reported to have better cold tolerance. Some of the other popular varieties include August Beauty, Daisy and Mystery.
Another popular variety is a dwarf called Radicans. This variety is reported to be 2’x2’ on average but getting to 3’x3’. My experience is that they get a little larger than that if you never prune them. They are not as cold hardy as the Frost Proof, but it has been a number of years since we have gotten cold enough to be a problem.
Gardenias can get sooty mold, white flies and scale. Usually Orthene or Acephate will control these problems. They also get thrips in the blooms, which will greatly shorten the life of the flowers. Last year when I looked inside the blooms of my gardenias, I saw hundreds if thousands of thrips in each bloom. Malathion or Orthene will help control thrips once the blooms are opened.
Gardenias like a well-drained, acid soil and can grow in full sun to partial shade. Like most summer-blooming ornamentals, gardenias should be pruned, if needed, immediately after they finish blooming. They will set flower buds for next year soon after flowering.
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The LSU AgCenter and the Livingston Parish Master Gardeners will host a plant health clinic on Saturday, June 6, 2009, from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m at the Livingston Farmers Market in Denham Springs.
I will be at the clinic to help diagnose disease problems, identify insect and weed samples and make recommendations for control.
For more information on these or related topics, contact Kenny at 225-665-7830.