Nota, since winter is coming, plant growth will slow down..I'd wait until spring, especially if you're considering cutting roots.. One thing you can do is divide in half, but then you'd have two of the same hibs, etc. I don't consider Hibs plants that go dormant in winter..My hibs bloom yr round so this tells me they don't go through dormancy..In fact, Mr. Crockett from Victory GArdens states this in his house plant book. But, if they're getting little sun, something we can't control, (natural sun) they do slow down..I bought 3 hibs in summer, repotted two. One's in a 10" the other a 12. I'll keep them in these pots a couple yrs..Some of my smaller hibs that are a few yrs old were repotted in spring..I noticed roots growing out of a few pots but decided to wait until next yr to repot. Are you seeing roots on top of the soil? If so, then I'd say the hibs are really potbound. You mention the soil not drying too fast though, so I'd wait..As long as you're not watering daily because leaves are wilting you shouldn't worry about repotting. Do you have pics of your hibs? Bays grow big..is yours a tree or bush? They grow into standard trees if bottom branches are kept pruned. The trunk will thicken, too. The Sambac grows in winter, also, like hibs. Is your jasmine the Maid of Orleans? Sorry, don't know the botancial names for these plants..Toni

Troman, I now have 2 peach trees, one of which is a 4th year Reliance producing fruit, the other is a 1st year Contender. My real gardening hobby is growing roses. Peaches are in the same family as roses so I try to carry over some of the same techniques. The key here for you, I believe, is not to fertilize from this point forward in the season to help your 2 peach trees to harden off. With roses, it is helpful to water, and I suspect the same applies to peach trees if your weather has been dry. Roses should have some moisture during the winter or they can dry out completely. Here in Iowa we have sufficient snow and ice for moisture. Not sure about N. Dakota. Finally, you do not want to prune. The problem as you are aware is that pruning encourages vigorous growth near the site of pruning, and that growth will not likely harden off for winter. I don't see any point to pinching new growth off. The new growth may live through winter but it may not live through the winter. Just prune dead branches in the spring if young fall growth is dead. I think the problem you had this winter was that your peach blossom buds were frozen off by the extreme cold. I had no more than 40 - 50 flowers on my Reliance due to the extreme winter we had in Iowa. My limited experience suggested that the tree ought to have been covered in flowers. Out of the 40 - 50 flowers I now have about 20 - 25 peaches on the tree. Summer pruning was not the trouble for you. Winter weather likely froze off your flower buds.

Thanks for the responses. Jeri, thanks for the tea pruning tip. I was a little concerned to do this as our temps have been in the 110s, supposed to be 114 today. Next week, we are SUPPOSED to be back in seasonable mid-ninties, I will do then. Melissa, I pruned in early spring for winter damage, but it was such a cold winter followed by hot spring, the brownish canker continues to appear. This damage is been paricularly bad on my most fragrant bourbons, SdlM, Maggie, Mme Isaac Periere. I will go ahead with the pruning next week. My prized Maggie hedge looks horrible. What they say about planting the same variety in a row is true. You eventually end up with holes in the lineup, or runts and giants.

Hey Andrew, I was waiting to see if someone with more experience would give you some advice...but I will Put in my 2 cents worth and try to help you with your question!!! You will probably have no problem with the new branches forming with either path you choose. If you let it decide it's natural path (to go dormant), I feel that it will form the branches where it left off before dormancy...If you choose to continue to grow (artificial lights) your tree will continue as is...Your tree sounds like it is very healthy and wants to be active right now. I would let mother nature take it's course!!! She knows what is good for the tree!!! Sounds like you do as well!!! (Either Path you take, will be the right one for you!!!) I hope this helps a little Andrew!!! Take care.... Laura in VB