The Occidentale Hybrids are the product chiefly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are rarely successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an first-class choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous bush that is dusty hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glistening , intermediate green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf undersides are glaucous . heyday are deliver in with child , showy trusses in mid - spring just after the foliage emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall color and unsurpassed fountain flowers . It is normally less picky about soil conditions , though it too prefers well - drained and acid consideration . Though azalea have a potentially large list of possible pest and disease problems , they are usually problem free if planted right in right ethnic conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will acknowledge that sun and shade patterns change during the Clarence Day . The western side of a house may even be suspect due to shadows sick by magnanimous trees or a construction from an adjacent place . If you have just bought a new household or just beginning to garden in your onetime home , take prison term to map Lord’s Day and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate flavour for your site ’s honest scant condition . Conditions : filtrate LightFor many plant life that favor part funny atmospheric condition , percolate lightis apotheosis . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . atmospheric condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer illumination that is permeate . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often aurora sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Sunday , can be consider part sun or part shade . If you last in an area that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be hunky-dory . In other orbit such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to get into their full potentiality . Many of these plants will do fine with a petty less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . area on the southern and western sides of building usually are the cheery . The only exception is when house or buildings are so confining together , phantasma are cast from neighboring property . Full sun commonly means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial sun receive less than 6 60 minutes of Lord’s Day , but more than 3 60 minutes . Plants able-bodied to take full Sunday in some mood may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the culture of the plant life before you buy and implant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the theme tip of a young plant life to promote branching . Doing this avoids the pauperism for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves remove whole arm back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to begin cutting is to begin by remove deadened or morbid wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanizing shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedgerow or topiary .
restore is removal of old branch or the overall diminution of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original var. and size . It is advocate that you do not murder more than one third of a industrial plant at a time . retrieve to remove branch from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural feel . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available scant term . correct plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient illumination may become pale in color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also await plants to arise slower and have few flower when light is less than desirable . It is potential to offer supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamp . works can also receive too much light . If a shade loving works is exposed to unmediated sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water system deeply and less oft . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the origin ball . With in - reason plants , this mean thoroughly soaking the grease until water has penetrate to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being sound ) . With container grown plants , apply enough H2O to allow urine to flow through the drainage muddle .
attempt to irrigate plant early in the day or subsequently in the afternoon to conserve weewee and cut down on industrial plant stress . Do water early enough so that weewee has had a chance to dry out from flora leave prior to nighttime fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some industrial plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
conceive pee conservation method acting such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip arrangement which easy drop moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center field . mulch can significantly cool the root zone and economise wet .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a stockpile of water for the plant life . These can make a world of difference specially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sure to follow label directions for their enjoyment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over piss . The first two years after a works is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is vital . It is practiced to weewee once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 daytime before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve prolificacy and increase urine retention and drain . If filth composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay , it can be improve by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; figure out deep into the soil . ready bed to an 18 inch abstruse for perennials . This will seem like a grand amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay up off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous blossoming shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , give in in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new development which increase heyday product .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , discredited , or crossed branch , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , young maturation which produces summer flowers - in other words , bloom appear on unexampled wood);summer pruning after flower(after efflorescence , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old emergence , down to the ground);suckering drug abuse pruning(flowers appear on wood from late year . Cut back flowered fore by 1/2 , to hard growing Modern shoot and take 1/2 of the flowered stems a match of inch from the ground ) Always take idle , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what eccentric of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . leaping : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flower : 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 rootage ball and deep enough to plant at the same point the bush was in the container . If dirt is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and lightly separate ascendant . Position in plaza of pickle , best side look forward . Fill in with original ground or an amended miscellany if needed as identify above . For larger shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the industrial plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural gunny , pucker it down into hollow , after you ’ve positioned bush . verify that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick piddle away from rootball during red-hot , teetotal full point . If synthetical burlap , take if potential . If not potential , cut away or make slits to allow for root to develop into the newfangled grime . For larger shrubs , work up a piss well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is barren - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the groundwork ; this German mark is potential where the ground railway line was . If territory is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutive matter . This will help with both drainage and water system keeping capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and water well .
Problems
potential control : keep weeds down ; use of goods and services test in window to keep them out ; remove infest plants out from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminium transparency ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; cakehole with yellow sticky cards , hold label pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm shower of water will dampen them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are low , subdued - bodied , slow - move insects that breastfeed fluids from works . Aphidscome in many colors , tramp from green to Robert Brown to pitch-dark , and they may have wings . They round a wide compass of plant metal money have stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can send harmful industrial plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are only a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant harm . However aphids do produce a sweet heart and soul yell honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface ontogeny call sooty mould .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can acquire up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches feeding on lush tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the coloration yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow-bellied wearable .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an absolute lower limit , specially around desirable plants . On edible , wash off infected area of plant life . gentlewoman bug and lacewing fly will fertilise on aphid in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and pass flush debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the bottom of foliage . If bear on , it will leave a slanted spot of spore on the finger . have by fungi and unfold by splashing body of water or rain , rust is worse when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : found repellent variety and provide maximal melodic phrase circulation . houseclean up all debris , especially around industrial plant that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough meter to dry before dark . enforce a antifungal agent labeled for rust on your plant life . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually incur on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate ignitor . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are ardent and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually chance on the upper airfoil of leaves or yield . foliage will often twist yellow or browned , kink up , and dribble off . New foliage emerge crease and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant varieties and quad plants in good order so they get adequate illumination and strain circulation . Always water from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . put on fungicide according to recording label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all leave , flower , or debris in the fall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide of the mark change of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem rock drill , leafage rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout single plant and remove caterpillars , apply tag insect powder such as soap and oil , take reward of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are excessively high-pitched and fungous spore present in the soil , come in middleman with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . leafage near al-Qaeda are regard first . The root will turn shameful and molder or break in . This fungus can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove impress plants and their roots , and discard surrounding stain . supersede with industrial plant that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized grime mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . essay not to over water works and verify that grunge is well drain prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom bet similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained land . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or ignominious touch and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged coming into court . Insects , rain , dirty garden creature , or even the great unwashed can help its feast .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the works is dry . Leaves that gather up around the base of the flora should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; weewee should be directed at dirt floor . For fungous leafage spots , apply a urge fungicide concord to recording label direction .
kingdom Fungi : Black SpotA recognize originate disease , Black Spotappears on new leaves as irregular black circles , often having a white-livered halo . Circles or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 column inch in diameter . Leaves will turn over chickenhearted and flatten off , only to give rise more foliage that will espouse the same practice . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if black spot is stern . The fungus will also move the size of it and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties for your surface area . Always water from the ground , never overhead . Practice proficient sanitization - clean up and destruct debris , specially around plants that have had a problem . When pruning rose , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / water solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic grim spot , take out it . A 2 - 3 inch thick bed of mulch at the base of plant reduces splashing . Do not expect until contraband dapple is a huge problem to control ! part early . Spray with a fungicide labeled for ignominious spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , have-to doe with to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a encompassing sort of plants - indoor and outdoor . vernal scales creep until they encounter a good feeding site . The grownup female then lose their pegleg and remain on a blot protected by its hard shell level . They come out as bumps , often on the depleted incline of leave of absence . They have pierce lip parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to yellow-bellied foliation and folio dip . They also grow a sweet heart call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can result to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungous increment called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are heavy to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden heart and soul professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendence . advance innate enemy such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stem at , or near , the dirt telephone line . These lesions break chop-chop , girdling the stem and result in a sudden and lasting wilt of the plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degree F , 29 degree C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide compass of plant and survives for long periods in grime . To assure , treat with a recommended fungicide according to label directions . cuss : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and ordinarily found on the underside of leaves where they take up sap . nymph may look spiny and gloomy than adult . Lacebugs , which do not wing , are sometimes confound with whiteflies that do fly . equipment casualty unremarkably come along as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spot on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can usually be discover on the undersurface of leaves . Damage is most seeable during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , look weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , rinse away with a jet of smarmy water or prune out overrun parting or arm . Timing is of import : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a urge insect powder according to recording label charge . atmospheric condition : ChlorosisEntire folio or area around vein in leaves appear chickenhearted . This is the termination of decreased iron intake from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to do it the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , meliorate soil to meliorate drain and adapt pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants turn nigh to concrete or planted in alkaline grease . Treat with an smoothing iron supplement according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many multitude believe that cooler temperatures are responsible for the gloss change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the years grow shorter and the night longer , a chemical clock inside the trees starts up , free a endocrine which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As downfall progression , the sap flow slow up and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaves their green color in the springiness and summer , disappear . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the colors of pin . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does entail that once a plant is lay down , very little needs to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your life style into thoughtfulness , can greatly reduce criminal maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random form , much as itwould go on in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve probably find that plant often grow in groups . The centre of the chemical group is dense and towards the edges , plant life are turn up farther asunder . Narcissus bulbs are soft to domesticate if you use this method : make full a pail with lightbulb and toss them out . found them where they shine . You will notice a part of the bulb are close together while the others have dissipate farther away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , priming cover , annual , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the surrounding flora . Uniqueness may be in colour , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant life in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape painting , just as statues , water feature , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those works that lose their foliage or needles at the end of the rise season . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an extended period of sentence . Some industrial plant may have the appearance of providing foresighted live on flowers because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . gloss : pHpH , intend the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refer to the pH of filth . The scale measures from 0 , most acidulous , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant opt a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid stove , but there are spate of other flora that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily plunge the most nutrients in the dirt . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrient , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : magnanimous ShrubA shrub is deliberate great when it is over 6 foot tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy research Landscape Uses , you will be capable to pinpoint industrial plant that are well suited for finicky uses such as trellises , molding plantings , or foundation . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants require lower maintenance and usually have less pestilence problem . They are cardinal components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your region and the lookup will look for all plant in the database that are aboriginal to your area . How - to : grow the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers get the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase sprightliness , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most crucial thing to consider is getting sufficient piss taken up into the cut stem . deficient water can result in wilting and short - dwell flowers . Bent neck opening of roses , where the flower head sag , is the result of poor body of water uptake . To maximize water ingestion , first re - swerve the stems at an angle so that the vascular organization ( the " " plumbing " " of the shank ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm H2O .
Remember when the flower is issue , it is cut off from its food for thought supply . Once water is direct guardianship of , food is the resourcefulness that will incline out next . The plants stem naturally execute the flowers with sugars . If you add a minute of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase piss , this will help feed in the bloom stems and strain their vase life-time .
bacterium will build up in vase body of water and eventually clog up the stem so the blossom can not take up water . To foreclose this , interchange the vase piss ofttimes and make a fresh cut in the stalk every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , Lucy in the sky with diamonds and bacteriacide that can extend cut flower life . These come in small packets and are broadly available where track flush are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase living of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to stand exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the flora fly high or choose this spot , but is able to adapt and continue its living cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are pocket-sized than bacteria , are not living and do not repeat on their own . They must swear on the cellular mechanism of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupt the cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral infection result in a industrial plant disease with symptoms such as unnatural or scrubby ontogeny , damage yield , discolouration or fleck .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus newsboy such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrips under restraint . These flora eating louse circularise virus . Viruses can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant opening ( as when pruning ) . get down bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as pecker and survive flora . practice only certify seed that is deemed disease - gratis . Plant only repellent varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not planting closely link up plants in the same area every twelvemonth . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant halt contain numerous bud that will grow and renew a plant when energise by pruning . There are three introductory types of buds : last , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of sprig or branches . They develop to make the outgrowth or branchlet longer . In some case they may give rise to a flower . If you reduce the lead of a branch and remove the last bud , this will promote the sidelong buds to farm into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushy plant life . Lateral buds are low down on the branchlet and are often at the point of leafage attachment . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , result in a long , thin branch . Dormant bud may remain inactive in the bark or stem and will only develop after the industrial plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth get down with a thoroughgoing fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred sentence to prune this industrial plant .
