How to Prune Chuck Hayes Gardenia

Use a sharp, clean pruning saw for large branches and pruning shears for smaller branches. As you prune, disinfect the pruning tools in a bucket filled with nine parts water and one part bleach. Tools need disinfecting if you cut through disease- or insect-infected wood and when you begin pruning a different shrub.

Cut out dead or damaged branches at their base or at the point where they join healthy wood. Remove entire branches just before the branch collar at the base of the branch, which is a slightly swollen portion that sits against the trunk.

Trim back overgrown branches to maintain the basic shape of the Chuck Hayes gardenia. Cut these back to within ¼ inch of a leaf or bud. Cutting in this location forces the gardenia to fork at the cut, resulting in more flowering branches and a more compact shape.