QUESTION: Is it OK to prune my dwarf nandinas that have been in the ground for 10 years?ANSWER: If it were anything but nandinas, I would fuss at you for not doing this work in late winter, before the plant started to grow. But nandinas are so vigorous, especially with a root system that has been in the ground for a decade, that they should regenerate rapidly from pruning. The result should be excellent, healthy new foliage that will look beautiful. It will be like a shiny new car versus an old one that has been outdoors too long.As you prune, look for the oldest stems and cut them to the ground, but no more than half of them.

QUESTION: We planted two gardenias last fall in a partially shady location. They did great over the winter, but now they are not looking so great and have yellowing leaves that are falling off.ANSWER: I suspect lack of water because the plants are not yet established in their new location. That was not stressful through the winter because the air temperature was down. But rising temperatures caused the plants to lose water faster.If root-stimulating fertilizer was not used at planting time, consider this now. It's a way to get roots growing without forcing growth of stems and foliage during these early days of your gardenias' life in your landscape.By MCT News Service