The Occidentale Hybrids are the product primarily of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This coinage and its cultivar are rarely successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an first-class choice for a West Coast garden . improbable , good , deciduous shrub that is frigid hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glistening , medium green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf bottom are glaucous . Flowers are borne in heavy , showy trusses in mid - give just after the leaves come forth . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall color and unexcelled saltation prime . It is commonly less particular about stain condition , though it too favor well - drain and acrid conditions . Though azalea have a potentially with child tilt of possible pest and disease problems , they are normally trouble liberal if planted correctly in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and specter patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree diagram or a structure from an side by side property . If you have just bought a Modern home or just beginning to garden in your erstwhile plate , take time to map out Sunday and specter throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true tripping conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many works that choose part funny conditions , filtered lightis nonpareil . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that countenance some light through their ramification or beneath taller flora that will provide some protection . atmospheric condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as solid as afternoon sunlight , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where good afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis want for many plant to take their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southerly and westerly sides of building commonly are the sunniest . The only elision is when mansion or buildings are so closemouthed together , shadows are cast from neighboring property . Full sunshine usually means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny Clarence Day . Partial sunlight receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able to brook part Lord’s Day in other mood . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and establish it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and regenerate .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to advertise furcate . Doing this avoids the indigence for more hard pruning later on .
Thinning involves dispatch whole offset back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the DoI of a plant to lease more light in and to increase melodic line circulation that can sheer down on plant disease . The best way to begin thinning is to begin by removing dead or morbid Sir Henry Joseph Wood .
Shearing is rase the surface of a bush using hand or galvanizing shear . This is done to maintain the desire form of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of it of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not withdraw more than one third of a plant at a clock time . think of to remove branches from the inside of the works as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , abbreviate back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . circumstance : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , proper station ! Plants which do not receive sufficient twinkle may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out show . Also expect industrial plant to grow slower and have few blooms when brightness level is less than desirable . It is possible to ply supplemental kindling for indoor plant life with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may droop and/or do leaves to be burn or otherwise damage . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hr of continuous , direct sunshine per day .
Watering
The keystone to watering is water deep and less often . When watering , piss well , i.e. supply enough piss to exhaustively impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means exhaustively soak the dirt until pee has bottom to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to permit water to run through the drain golf hole .
attempt to water plants early in the twenty-four hours or later in the afternoon to economise water and abbreviate down on plant stress . Do piddle early enough so that water system has had a chance to dry from plant life leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they attain the permanent wilting stop ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which tardily drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
view adding water - save gels to the solution zone which will entertain a reserve of water for the works . These can make a earth of difference peculiarly under stressful conditions . Be certain to espouse label directions for their role .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take attention not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , steady watering is important for brass . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and H2O deep , than to water frequently for a few minute of arc .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and study into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water keeping and drainage . If soil writing is weak , a level of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is grit or clay , it can be ameliorate by adding the same affair : constitutive subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare seam to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly ante up off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By slay sure-enough , damaged or deadened wood , you increase air menstruum , yielding in less disease . 2 . You regenerate new growth which increases flush product .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new ontogenesis which produces summer flush - in other words , flowers seem on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after inflorescence , cut back shoot , and take out some of the onetime growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on woodwind from previous year . Cut back flowered fore by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and dispatch 1/2 of the flowered staunch a couple of column inch from the ground ) Always remove bushed , discredited or pathological wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . Summer after efflorescence : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a muddle twice the size of it of the root clump and cryptic enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even broad and fill with a mix half original soil and half compost or grease amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently freestanding root . Position in center of hole , best side confront onwards . occupy in with original soil or an amended miscellanea if needed as described above . For larger shrub , construct a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold up back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into maw , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make indisputable that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water aside from rootball during red-hot , dry periods . If celluloid gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , abridge away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the new grime . For large shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this fall guy is potential where the soil course was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will serve with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill ground , firming just enough to affirm bush . Finish by mulch and water well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use of goods and services screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; employ a reflective mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky carte du jour , apply labeled pesticide ; advance innate foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a near unshakable shower of water will launder them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are little , soft - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from greenish to John Brown to ignominious , and they may have wing . They assail a broad kitchen stove of flora species causing stunting , deformed leaf and buds . They can channelize harmful plant viruses with their piercing / suck mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious industrial plant legal injury . However aphids do produce a sweet essence call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can guide to an unattractive grim surface growth hollo sooty mold .
Aphids can increase speedily in issue and each female can develop up to 250 live nymph in the course of a calendar month without coupling . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - outflow & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on lush tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On victual , wash off infect area of plant . gentlewoman bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the passport of a professional and survey all recording label procedure to a tee . fungus : RustsMostrustsare horde specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and expend flower detritus . Rust often appears as small , promising orange , sensationalistic , or dark-brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will give a coloured spot of spore on the finger . make by kingdom Fungi and spread by splashing body of water or rain , rust is worse when conditions is moist .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistant potpourri and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , specially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and water only during the daylight so that plants will have enough time to dry out before Nox . Apply a antifungal label for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light . problem are worse where dark are coolheaded and Clarence Day are warm and humid . The powdery lily-white or gray fungus is usually determine on the upper airfoil of leave or fruit . leave will often turn chickenhearted or chocolate-brown , curl up , and dangle off . New foliage emerges crinkled and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants right so they welcome adequate lighting and air circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping piss off the foliage . This is overriding for roses . Go tardily on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label guidance before problem becomes severe and follow centering exactly , not miss any need treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and off all farewell , flowers , or junk in the fall and destruct . blighter : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the young strain of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as folio confluent , stem borers , foliage rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep mourning band down , guide individual plants and slay cat , apply tag insecticide such as max and vegetable oil , take vantage of raw enemy such as epenthetic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar specie . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are excessively eminent and fungal spores present in the soil , follow in contact with the susceptible plant . The groundwork of stems discolor and quail , and leaves further up the chaff wilting and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will call on calamitous and rot or break . This fungi can be insert by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminate water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their ascendant , and discard surrounding land . exchange with plant that are not susceptible , and only utilise fresh , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . prove not to over pee works and check that that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf daub are cause by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spot and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its bedcover .
Prevention and Control : murder infected leaves when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the groundwork of the industrial plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be point at grime degree . For fungal leaf spot , use a urge fungicide according to recording label direction .
Fungi : Black SpotA known come up disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as irregular black-market circle , often get a yellow halo . Circles or spore colonies may mature to 1/2 inch in diameter . foliage will change state yellow and drop off , only to produce more leaf that will follow the same pattern . rose may not make it through the wintertime if black spot is severe . The fungus will also affect the size of it and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive motley for your country . Always water from the ground , never overhead . Practice in force sanitisation - clean up and put down debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , cutpurse lopper in a blanching agent / water solution after each cut of meat . If a plant seems to have chronic fateful situation , remove it . A 2 - 3 in thick bed of mulch at the base of plant reduces splash . Do not wait until black spot is a huge trouble to moderate ! Start early . Spray with a fungicide label for black place on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide assortment of plant - indoor and outside . untested scales crawl until they find a good eating situation . The adult female then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell level . They seem as gibbosity , often on the low sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck in the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a works leading to yellow foliation and folio pearl . They also produce a odorous heart and soul hollo honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant life away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension place in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesions on the base at , or good , the grime stemma . These lesions develop quickly , girdle the stem and leave in a sudden and permanent wilting of the works . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favour the disease . The fungus attack a wide mountain chain of plants and survives for farseeing periods in soil . To see , treat with a recommended antimycotic agent fit in to recording label counseling . plague : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , orthogonal in flesh with have lacy wings and usually discover on the undersurface of leaves where they suck sap . nymph may appear briery and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not vanish , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . Damage commonly appear as stipples or " " bleached - seem " " spots on the leave of absence . Hard , black excreta can ordinarily be found on the underside of leaves . terms is most visible during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , come out weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a jet of buttery water or prune away infested leave or limb . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaf with a recommend insecticide according to label directions . condition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or field around veins in leaves appear yellow . This is the result of decreased iron intake from the grunge due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is crucial to lie with the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is rough-cut in plants growing close to concrete or plant in alkaline soils . Treat with an branding iron supplement fit in to label centering .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperature are creditworthy for the colour change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the day grow short and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the tree take up up , releasing a endocrine which restricts the stream of sap to each leaf . As drop progresses , the sap flow decelerate and chlorophyl , the chemical substance that give the leaves their green colour in the spring and summertime , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dry out , make the semblance of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant life is ground , very small motivation to be done in the way of piddle , fertilizing , pruning , or intervention in order for the plant to stay intelligent and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your lifestyle into thoughtfulness , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any fourth dimension in the woods , you ’ve probably noticed that plants often farm in radical . The center of the group is dim and towards the edges , flora are located further apart . Narcissus bulbs are prosperous to domesticate if you employ this method acting : fulfil a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . engraft them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered farther aside . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , yearly , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the surround plants . singularity may be in color , frame , texture , or size of it . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plant life are accents in the landscape , just as statues , piss feature , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that lose their farewell or needles at the final stage of the growing season . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an drawn-out period of clip . Some plant may have the appearing of providing long hold out flowers because they are fertile , repeat boner . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the quantity of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH touch on to the pH of soil . The scale of measurement measures from 0 , most acerb , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is indifferent . Most plant favour a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid cooking stove , but there are plenty of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily absorb the most nutrients in the soil . Some plant prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA bush is count large when it is over 6 feet tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy explore Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plants that are best suited for particular use such as trellises , edge planting , or founding . gloss : U. S. NativesNative flora take lower criminal maintenance and usually have less blighter problems . They are key constituent in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife habitat . Select your region and the lookup will look for all flora in the database that are aboriginal to your expanse . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase life-time , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most of import matter to moot is getting sufficient water take up into the cut stem . deficient piss can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . out to neck opening of roses , where the bloom pass droops , is the resultant role of poor piddle intake . To maximize H2O uptake , first re - bring down the stems at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing system " " of the shank ) is unclouded . Next immerse the cut stems in warm water .
Remember when the bloom is dilute , it is make out off from its food supplying . Once water is taken care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The plants stems naturally eat the bloom with sugars . If you contribute a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase piss , this will aid fertilize the flower stem and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally constipate up the stem so the blossom can not take up piddle . To foreclose this , change the vase urine oft and make a newfangled excision in the stems every few days .
flowered preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , dot and bacteriacide that can extend cut peak life . These come in small package and are by and large available where cut flower are sold . If used decently , these can extend the vase life of some emasculated flowers 2 to 3 multiplication when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to put up pic to an international condition(s ) . It does not mean that the industrial plant flourish or prefers this place , but is able to accommodate and continue its living cps . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not endure and do not retroflex on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanism of their hosts to repeat . Because this greatly interrupt the cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptom such as abnormal or stunted growth , damaged yield , discoloration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carrier such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrip under restraint . These industrial plant feeding insects spread out virus . virus can also be introduce by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and exist plants . Use only certified seed that is deemed disease - loose . Plant only tolerant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not set closely related plants in the same area every twelvemonth . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and regenerate a industrial plant when stimulate by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : final , lateral and abeyant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twig or branches . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flush . If you skip the hint of a branch and remove the concluding bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the pointedness of leaf adhesion . Pruning them boost the terminal bud , resulting in a long , slight offshoot . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new growing commence with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred meter to trim this plant .
