Gardenia bush - is there any hope?!

[Yorkshirelass]

My gardenia bushes have been protected against the frost all winter but are looking very sad. They have been adequately watered etc. The branches still look green and alive - should I prune off the brown leaves and hope new leaves grow or leave them to fall off (assuming the plant is still alive!). Thank you!

[pinksand]

I'm in the same boat with mine as well. I have one that looks similar but has a few green leaves and branches all the way at the bottom. I'm not sure what to do with mine either... cut back? The other one I have was clearly 100% dead so I dug it up.

[ElizabethB]

The soil looks wet and heavy. It also looks like the plant is buried too deep. The crown should be just slightly above the soil line. Gently lift the plant. Add some compost to the soil. Re-plant with the crown above the soil line.

Good luck