The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea aboriginal to the Pacific Coast . This metal money and its cultivars are rarely successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an excellent pick for a West Coast garden . marvellous , upright , deciduous bush that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glossy , medium green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf undersides are glaucous . Flowers are stick out in gravid , showy truss in mid - bounce just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall colour and unexceeded spring flowers . It is usually less picky about soil conditions , though it too favour well - drained and virulent conditions . Though azalea have a potentially large list of potential pest and disease problems , they are usually worry free if engraft aright in right cultural conditions .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that sun and nicety figure interchange during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadow couch by large tree diagram or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a new house or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map out Dominicus and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s truthful low-cal conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . skillful planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that let some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part tint . If you live in an country that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday photograph may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , works in a location where afternoon shadiness will be get . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis require for many plant to assume their full potentiality . Many of these plants will do fine with a short less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southern and western sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when houses or construction are so stuffy together , shadows are range from neighboring properties . Full Sunday ordinarily mean 6 or more hours of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a gay Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Partial Dominicus receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . works capable to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the refinement of the flora before you bribe and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and regenerate .
Pinching is slay the radical tips of a young flora to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning after on .
Thinning involves remove whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to get more light in and to increase aura circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to begin thinning is to start by removing utter or pathological wood .
Shearing is level the surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branches or the overall decrease of the size of a bush to rejuvenate its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clip . call back to get rid of branch from the interior of the industrial plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various elevation so that plant will have a more rude feeling . atmospheric condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is desirable to match the correct flora with the uncommitted scant conditions . Right plant , right place ! plant which do not have sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leave and a " leggy " extend - out appearance . Also require plants to grow sluggish and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplementary lighting for indoor plant with lamps . plant can also receive too much light . If a specter loving plant is queer to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause parting to be sunburned or otherwise damage . term : Full SunFull Sunis defined as vulnerability to more than 6 hours of continuous , unmediated sun per day .
Watering
The key to tearing is piss deep and less frequently . When watering , body of water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this signify thoroughly soaking the soil until water has perforate to a astuteness of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , employ enough H2O to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
seek to irrigate plants early in the twenty-four hours or later in the good afternoon to keep up water and cut down on flora stress . Do body of water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leafage prior to dark surrender . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t look to water until plant wilt . Although some flora will regain from this , all plants will snuff it if they wilt too much ( when they reach out the lasting wilting power point ) .
Consider weewee conservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which tardily drip moisture flat on the root system can be purchase at your local dwelling and garden snapper . Mulches can significantly cool the ascendent zone and conserve moisture .
study tally water supply - lay aside gels to the antecedent zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under trying conditions . Be certain to be label directions for their use .
consideration : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be keep evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions expect . Most works like 1 inch of body of water a workweek during the growing season , but take care not to over water supply . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lachrymation is crucial for establishment . The first year is vital . It is skillful to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil penning is imperfect , a level of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be ameliorate by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; do work deep into the soil . cook beds to an 18 column inch bass for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly give off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once works have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , discredited or deadened wood , you increase air travel period , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new ontogenesis which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or bilk branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summertime flowers - in other words , heyday appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on woodwind instrument from previous yr . Cut back bloom fore by 1/2 , to hard growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the bloom stems a distich of column inch from the ground ) Always remove utter , damaged or diseased Sir Henry Joseph Wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . natural spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flush : 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 hole twice the size of the root glob and deep enough to implant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and gently separate tooth root . Position in center field of hole , estimable side facing ahead . take in with original soil or an amend mixture if ask as delineate above . For larger shrubs , construct a water system well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fastening and fold back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into hollow , after you ’ve set bush . Make certain that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick body of water away from rootball during hot , ironical periods . If synthetic burlap , remove if potential . If not potential , geld aside or make slit to allow for ascendent to develop into the fresh filth . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - source , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this marking is likely where the grease line of business was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drain and urine holding mental ability . Fill filth , firming just enough to patronage shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove overrun flora away from non - infested plants ; use a pondering mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant life ( this repels whitefly ) ; yap with white-livered sticky bill , apply judge pesticides ; advance natural enemy such as parasitical wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm shower bath of piss will lave them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , lenient - bodied , slow - run louse that suckle fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , crop from green to brown to black , and they may have wing . They attack a encompassing range of plant metal money cause stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant life viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to induce serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive blackened surface development foretell sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 bouncy nymphs in the course of a month without coupling . Aphids often appear when the surroundings vary - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of arm course on lush tissue paper . Aphids are appeal to the colour yellow and will often thumb on chicken clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , specially around desirable plants . On edibles , moisten off infected area of plant . madam hemipteran 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 recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedure to a golf tee . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare innkeeper specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spend prime rubble . Rust often appears as modest , bright orangish , yellow , or brown pustules on the bottom of leave-taking . If equal , it will leave a dark spot of spores on the finger . because of fungus kingdom and circularize by plash water or rain , rusting is speculative when atmospheric condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant potpourri and provide maximal air circulation . Clean up all detritus , especially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and H2O only during the daylight so that plant life will have enough time to dry before night . use a fungicide labeled for rust fungus on your flora . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough melodic line circulation or adequate light . Problems are risky where dark are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery blanched or gray fungus is commonly find on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leaf will often wrick yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . novel leafage come out crisp and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : institute resistant varieties and space plants properly so they receive fair to middling light and air circulation . Always weewee from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose wine . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . go for fungicides concord to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and get rid of all leave-taking , bloom , or debris in the descent and destroy . cuss : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature variety of moths and butterfly . They are esurient self-feeder attack a wide variety of works . They can be extremely destructive and are characterize as folio feeder , stem bore bit , leaf roller , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , lookout man case-by-case plants and absent caterpillars , apply labeled insecticide such as soaps and oils , take advantage of raw enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grease moisture levels are excessively high and fungal spore present in the soil , descend in inter-group communication with the susceptible works . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near Qaeda are affect first . The ascendent will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected industrial plant and their roots , and discard skirt soil . interchange with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilise soil intermixture . Hold back on fertilizing too . test not to over water plants and make certain that soil is well debilitate prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drained dirt . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or black fleck and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged show . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even mass can help oneself its spread .
Prevention and Control : take away infected leave when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be run down up and toss out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; weewee should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spot , use a recommended fungicide accord to label direction .
Fungi : Black SpotA known grow disease , Black Spotappears on young leave of absence as irregular dim circles , often having a yellow aureole . Circles or spore colony may grow to 1/2 column inch in diameter . parting will change state yellow and drop off , only to produce more parting that will come after the same pattern . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if mordant spot is severe . The fungus will also bear upon the size and quality of prime .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant varieties for your area . Always weewee from the ground , never overhead . practise well sanitization - clean up and destroy detritus , specially around plant that have had a trouble . When rationalise pink wine , even deadheading , dip pruner in a bleach / piddle solution after each snub . If a works seems to have chronic black speckle , dispatch it . A 2 - 3 inch thick stratum of mulch at the base of plant trim back spatter . Do not wait until disgraceful blot is a huge job to moderate ! Start early . Spray with a fungicide judge for disgraceful speckle on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , related to mealy bug , that can be a job on a broad variety of industrial plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they come up a good alimentation land site . The adult female person then lose their legs and continue on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the broken side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that take up the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a flora leading to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also raise a dulcet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can go to an unattractive black surface fungal growing call jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are tough to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . refer your local garden heart professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their command . Encourage natural enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden . disease : southerly BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesion on the bow at , or near , the soil line . These lesions evolve rapidly , girdling the radical and resulting in a sudden and lasting wilting of the flora . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide chain of mountains of plant life and hold out for farsighted periods in ground . To ascertain , treat with a recommend antimycotic agent according to label direction . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , rectangular in physical body with have lacy wings and usually find on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and dismal than adults . Lacebugs , which do not flee , are sometimes jumble with whiteflies that do flee . Damage usually appear as stipples or " " bleach - look " " spots on the leaves . heavily , black excrement can commonly be set up on the undersurface of leave . hurt is most seeable during the summer , especially on tree . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash off off with a jet plane of saponaceous water or prune away overrun leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray harmonize to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your orbit . To control dirt ball , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insecticide according to recording label directions . circumstance : ChlorosisEntire farewell or domain around venous blood vessel in leaves appear yellow . This is the solution of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged territory . It is crucial to acknowledge the pH requirement of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and align pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants farm close to concrete or plant in alkaline soil . Treat with an branding iron supplement harmonise to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperatures are responsible for the color variety , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow curt and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a internal secretion which restricts the stream of sap to each leaf . As gloaming progresses , the sap rate of flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaf their unripe color in the spring and summertime , vanish . The residuary sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the colors of gloam . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no upkeep . It does think that once a works is established , very fiddling needs to be done in the way of pee , fertilizing , pruning , or discussion in Holy Order for the plant life to persist healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which necessitate your lifestyle into thoughtfulness , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random design , much as itwould occur in nature . If you drop any meter in the woods , you ’ve probably acknowledge that plants often grow in groups . The center of the group is dense and towards the edge , plants are located far asunder . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : occupy a pail with bulbs and toss them out . implant them where they fall . You will notice a circumstances of the bulbs are close together while the others have scatter far away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , one-year , or repeated that is unique in comparison to the surround plants . singularity may be in color , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a ocular area , it can be showcased . Specimen industrial plant are accents in the landscape , just as statues , water system features , or arbor . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that fall behind their leaves or needles at the conclusion of the growing time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an extended geological period of metre . Some plants may have the appearance of providing farsighted live on bloom because they are fecund , repeat knickers . gloss : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a mountain chain between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are plenty of other plants that like ground more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily assimilate the most nutrient in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is considered large when it is over 6 infantry tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy research Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to pinpoint plants that are best suit for special uses such as trellis , border plantings , or foundations . gloss : U. S. NativesNative plant want downhearted maintenance and commonly have less plague job . They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife habitat . choose your area and the search will attend for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your sphere . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flower bring the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first add them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most of import affair to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can lead in wilt and short - lived flowers . Bent neck of roses , where the flower question droops , is the result of piteous water intake . To maximize piss intake , first re - shorten the stems at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbery " " of the stem ) is unmortgaged . Next immerse the snub stems in warm piddle .
think when the flower is thin , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is taken care of , food for thought is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plants stems naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you tot a routine of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase body of water , this will help oneself feed the bloom stems and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and eventually clog up the radical so the flush can not take up water . To prevent this , exchange the vase urine oftentimes and make a new cut in the root every few twenty-four hour period .
Floral preservatives , available from florist shop , contain refined sugar , acids and bacteriacides that can extend abbreviate flower life . These come in small bundle and are loosely available where cut efflorescence are sold . If used decent , these can protract the vase sprightliness of some cut heyday 2 to 3 times when compared with just apparent water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant relate to a plant life ’s ability to tolerate vulnerability to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this site , but is able to adapt and continue its life-time cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not living and do not repeat on their own . They must rely on the cellular chemical mechanism of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound signs of a viral transmission result in a industrial plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrawny ontogenesis , damage fruit , discoloration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carrier such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrips under control . These industrial plant feeding insect spread virus . Viruses can also be introduce by septic pollen or through plant opening ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tool and live plant . Use only endorse seed that is deemed disease - liberal . Plant only tolerant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotate crops , not planting tight related plant life in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will develop and regenerate a works when energise by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : last , lateral and abeyant . Terminal buds are at the tip of twigs or branches . They arise to make the subdivision or twig longer . In some cases they may give acclivity to a peak . If you ignore the peak of a ramification and murder the last bud , this will advance the sidelong bud to grow into side offshoot resulting in a thick , bushy plant . sidelong bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of foliage attachment . Pruning them encourage the final bud , result in a long , thin outgrowth . sleeping buds may rest inactive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the industrial plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before unexampled growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the favourite time to prune this plant .
