Our gardenia bushes received winter kill

Question

Our gardenia bushes received winter kill. About 6 plants all healthy in January. Now all 80 to 90% have brown leaves. One plant is 25% okay. How severely can I prune? Should I wait to see if new growth appears then just remove the brown leaves? If I prune brown leaves, will plant come back?

Answer 1

I would wait to see what regrows. The leaves may be dead, but the branches may still be viable. Dead branches will be brittle and live branches will be pliable.