hibiscus

how far back should i trim my hibiscus? this photo was taken in summer 08'
we had a couple of freezes down here and it looks like i should chop this beautiful small tree down to a foot away from the ground. this summer it was about 7' tall with lots of flowering branches, but now it looks very sad, but yet there is growth at the base of it, which is about 30" in diameter. i also wonder if it is nessicary to fertilize, and when. i try not to fertilize anything, but i feel that with the soil the way it is around here (shells), that i should try to feed the flowers

yikes!

Probably you'll think of this as a very naive question, but... why don't you just wait until summer (or spring even)? Shells aren't the right substrate for the plant to get his nutrients from but, without interference of men, nature has survived and evolved since time immemorable. I think you should give it a chance to adapt itself to the ever changing climate..

oh, it's spring around here already! and this photo was taken before winter even started. i trimmed it way back, btw. i'll post a pic

We prune our hibiscus in the middle of spring.Cut it back by approx one third.
As it flowers late summer and autumn. usually very prolific.
A bit like a rose bush it does enjoy the "hair-cut"

yes, i noticed a few places around town where people have cut them way back. i'm going to do the same but i'm afraid i'll have to cut mine back about 75%!