Why Does My Gardenia Look So Sad? The Grumpy Gardener Explains

About This Episode

The Grumpy Gardener answers a reader’s question on a sad gardenia. Plus, Grumpy’s gripe of the week.

Question Of The Week

"I've never had much interest in it, yet I read your column in Southern Living religiously, and have learned so much. We have a yard full of huge gardenias, except one guy who seems dead in the middle, but isotherwise fine. Is there a way we can help him out? Otherwise, he may have to go, because he's right beside our front door." - Amanda

Grumpy's Answer: Amanda, you terrible gardener, you. I see two options for your sad gardenia. One, you can cut out all the dead stuff and hope that the shrub fills out and fills in the gap, or two, you can replace it with a new gardenia. Considering its prominent position, I'd choose door number two, get a new one!

Gripe Of The Week

This comes from something that I recently got in the mail. People get lots of plants through the mail, you know? They order roses, and shrubs, and perennials, and bulbs, and trees. But, have you ever heard of mail order annuals? I mean, that is nuts. Annuals live only one growing season and then they die, and besides that, they're commonly used as bedding plants in big displays. So, I get this catalog and I open it up and what do I see but annuals for sale. Now, Cleome, Coleus, Impatiens, Petunias, and Zinnias, and they're only $11.95 each plus shipping. So, what are you gonna do, order only three? I mean, how stupid would that look in your yard? I got one over there and 20 feet over there, and I got. Anyway, who orders by the mail?

About Ask Grumpy

Ask Grumpy is a podcast featuring Steve Bender, also known as Southern Living’s Grumpy Gardener. For more than 20 years, Grumpy has been sharing advice on what to grow, when to plant, and how to manage just about anything in your garden. Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor. Be sure to follow Ask Grumpy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so you don't miss an episode.