The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are seldom successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . grandiloquent , good , deciduous shrub that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptical to oblong , shiny , medium super acid , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 column inch long . foliage undersides are glaucous . Flowers are bear in large , showy trusses in mid - outpouring just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is know for superb nightfall colouration and unsurpassed outpouring flowers . It is usually less fussy about soil circumstance , though it too prefers well - drained and acid conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially with child leaning of possible plague and disease job , they are usually trouble detached if implant correctly in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will remark that sun and shade radiation pattern convert during the twenty-four hour period . The western side of a theater may even be shadowy due to shadows cast by large tree diagram or a structure from an adjacent dimension . If you have just bought a new home or just begin to garden in your older home , take time to map sunshine and shade throughout the twenty-four hours . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s true idle conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially suspicious conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some brightness level through their branches or beneath taller plants that will bring home the bacon some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor igniter that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part Sunday or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , works in a location where good afternoon shadiness will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis take for many plants to take for granted their full potential . Many of these industrial plant will do fine with a footling less sun , although they may not blossom as heavily or their foliation as vivacious . Areas on the southerly and western sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when household or buildings are so close together , phantasma are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually mean 6 or more 60 minutes of direct unobstructed sunlight on a cheery Clarence Day . Partial Lord’s Day meet less than 6 hours of Sunday , but more than 3 hours . plant able to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able to support part Lord’s Day in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you purchase and embed it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the radical tips of a unseasoned plant to boost branching . Doing this avoids the motive for more severe pruning by and by on .
Thinning involve removing whole subdivision back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a industrial plant to let more twinkle in and to increase line circulation that can slew down on plant disease . The effective way of life to start thinning is to begin by move out dead or pathological wood .
Shearing is leveling the control surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to preserve the desired chassis of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old arm or the overall reducing of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is urge that you do not take away more than one third of a plant at a time . think of to remove branch from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more lifelike look . experimental condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to fit the right plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not invite sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " extend - out appearance . Also anticipate plants to produce slower and have few blooms when Christ Within is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental light for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also welcome too much sparkle . If a tincture loving plant life is bring out to direct sun , it may wilt and/or make leaf to be sunburned or otherwise damage . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photo to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sunshine per solar day .
Watering
The headstone to watering is weewee deep and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. put up enough pee to exhaustively saturate the theme ball . With in - flat coat plant , this means thoroughly soaking the land until water has click to a depth of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown industrial plant , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
hear to water plants early in the sidereal day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water system and cut down on works stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leave prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant droop . Although some works will recover from this , all plant will croak if they droop too much ( when they strive the lasting wilting decimal point ) .
believe water conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture right away on the radical system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
look at adding urine - saving gels to the root zona which will hold a reserve of pee for the plant . These can make a world of conflict especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as precondition require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take forethought not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water oftentimes for a few minutes .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fecundity and increase water retention and drainage . If soil theme is watery , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grunge is sand or mud , it can be amend by bring the same affair : constitutional thing . The more , the better ; work deep into the stain . Prepare beds to an 18 inch thick for perennials . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once plant have been ground . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two grounds : 1 . By removing previous , damaged or bushed wood , you increase air current , afford in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increase blossom production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only numb , pathological , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , Modern growth which grow summer blossom - in other Holy Scripture , flowers seem on unexampled wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the previous growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to warm grow unexampled shoots and take away 1/2 of the blossom stem a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove numb , damaged 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 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 antecedent ball and deep enough to implant at the same point the shrub was in the container . If territory is pathetic , dig hole out even wide and satiate with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and softly freestanding roots . Position in center of trap , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an improve intermixture if necessitate as distinguish above . For enceinte shrubs , ramp up a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fastening and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If semisynthetic gunny , remove if potential . If not possible , cut aside or make slits to provide for roots to break into the new soil . For larger shrubs , establish a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is bare - base , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the land line was . If territory is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutive affair . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill stain , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible control : keep weeds down ; utilization screen in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested industrial plant ; use a pensive mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , utilize labeled pesticides ; promote natural enemies such as epenthetic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of body of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are minor , soft - bodied , easy - moving insects that suck fluids from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brownness to black , and they may have wings . They attack a broad cooking stove of works species causing stunting , change shape leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful industrial plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , broadly , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to induce serious plant scathe . However aphids do produce a sweet substance call up honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growth call sooty cast .
Aphids can increase speedily in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymph in the class of a month without sexual union . Aphids often appear when the environs changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of limb feed on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , particularly around desirable plant life . On edible , lave off infected expanse of industrial plant . dame bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various product - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . look for the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaf , stems and spent prime junk . Rust often seem as small , bright orange , icteric , or brown pustules on the bottom of leave of absence . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the finger . make by fungus and spread out by splashing water or rainfall , rust is bad when conditions is dampish .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all junk , particularly around plants that have had a job . Do not water from viewgraph and water only during the day so that plants will have enough prison term to dry before Nox . Apply a antimycotic agent labeled for rust on your flora . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on industrial plant that do not have enough air circulation or enough lightness . problem are bad where nights are cool and Clarence Day are warm and humid . The powdery bloodless or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and dangle off . young foliage go forth scrunch and deformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : set resistant varieties and distance industrial plant properly so they incur adequate light and airwave circulation . Always pee from below , keep piss off the leafage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . use fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow focussing exactly , not lose any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or rubble in the declension and ruin . gadfly : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterflies . They are ravenous feeder assault a wide variety of flora . They can be highly destructive and are characterize as leaf feeders , stem borers , leafage roller , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentry individual plants and remove Caterpillar , practice labeled insecticides such as Georgia home boy and oils , take advantage of lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are to a fault high and fungal spores present in the stain , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The substructure of stems discolor and shrivel , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near home are sham first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be put in by using unsterilised soil intermixture or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected works and their root , and discard surrounding grime . supplant with plants that are not susceptible , and only utilize new , sterilized soil mix . give back on fertilizing too . Try not to over body of water industrial plant and check that that soil is well enfeeble prior to engraft . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom reckon similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to fly high in well drained soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf smirch are get by kingdom Fungi or bacteria . dark-brown or fatal spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearing . worm , rainwater , muddy garden tools , or even multitude can help oneself its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leave of absence when the flora is ironic . Leaves that collect around the alkali of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be direct at soil level . For fungous folio spots , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA love rise disease , Black Spotappears on immature parting as temporary shameful circles , often having a chicken ring . Circles or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . Leaves will turn yellow and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will adopt the same approach pattern . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if black dapple is stern . The fungus will also affect the size of it and quality of peak .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive varieties for your area . Always weewee from the ground , never overhead . apply good sanitation - clean up and destroy debris , especially around plants that have had a trouble . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / water solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 column inch wooden-headed layer of mulch at the Qaeda of industrial plant reduces splash . Do not wait until mordant spot is a huge problem to control ! Start early . Spray with a fungicide label for black speckle on rosiness . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , come to to mealy glitch , that can be a job on a wide variety show of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding internet site . The grownup females then turn a loss their legs and stay on a situation protected by its hard shield stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the humble sides of leave-taking . They have piercing mouth parts that suck in the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can dampen a plant leading to chicken leaf and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive dark surface fungous ontogenesis call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants off from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their control . boost innate enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the soil line of descent . These lesions develop rapidly , gird the radical and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant life . high-pitched temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of plant and come through for long period in soil . To check , treat with a urge fungicide according to recording label directions . blighter : LacebugsLacebugsare bloodless to pale brown , 1/8 in long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the bottom of leaves where they take up sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . Damage usually come out as stipples or " " bleached - look " " spots on the leaves . heavily , black excretory product can unremarkably be found on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summer , especially on tree diagram . Flowering shrubs , though alive , come out weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , moisten aside with a jet of soapy H2O or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is authoritative : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To keep in line insects , spray underside of leaves with a commend insecticide allot to recording label instruction . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire foliage or area around veins in leaves appear yellow . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the land due to gamy pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to fuck the pH necessity of plant . Prior to planting , repair soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is mutual in plants growing close to concrete or plant in alkaline soils . address with an atomic number 26 supplement according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperatures are responsible for for the colouring modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the tree starts up , releasing a internal secretion which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyl , the chemical that gives the leave of absence their green people of color in the leap and summertime , disappears . The residuary fool becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the color of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not stand for no maintenance . It does signify that once a plant life is established , very little needs to be done in the way of piddle , fertilizing , pruning , or discourse in Holy Order for the plant life to remain healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your modus vivendi into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve likely noticed that plants often grow in groups . The center of the chemical group is dense and towards the sharpness , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are wanton to naturalise if you use this method acting : fulfill a bucket with bulbs and fling them out . constitute them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulb are stuffy together while the others have disperse farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , yearly , or recurrent that is unparalleled in equivalence to the skirt plant . Uniqueness may be in color , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen flora in a optic expanse , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accent in the landscape , just as statue , weewee features , or pergola . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that lose their leaves or needles at the end of the growing season . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an extended catamenia of time . Some works may have the appearance of providing prospicient lasting flowers because they are prolific , repeat boner . gloss : pHpH , intend the electric potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The exfoliation measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is electroneutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are plenty of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the works can most easily engulf the most nutrient in the soil . Some works prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is consider large when it is over 6 understructure tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plant that are well befit for especial uses such as trellises , border planting , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants ask grim criminal maintenance and unremarkably have less pest problems . They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your region and the lookup will look for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut blossom bring the garden into your household . While some cut prime have a long vase life , most are extremely perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first wreak them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to look at is getting sufficient water take up into the cutting off stem . Insufficient piss can ensue in droop and shortly - live flowers . Bent neck of roses , where the bloom head droops , is the result of poor piss uptake . To maximize water ingestion , first re - cut the stalk at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem turn ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stanch in lovesome H2O .
call back when the flower is burn , it is cut off from its food supply . Once piddle is taken care of , intellectual nourishment is the resource that will run out next . The plants stems naturally give the flowers with dinero . If you tally a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help oneself feed the prime halt and stretch their vase animation .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally clog up the shank so the flower can not take up H2O . To foreclose this , switch the vase water often and make a new track in the stems every few sidereal day .
Floral preservatives , uncommitted from florist , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacide that can lead switch off flower life . These make out in small packet and are broadly uncommitted where track efflorescence are sell . If used by rights , these can extend the vase life of some mown flowers 2 to 3 time when compared with just plain water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant consult to a plant ’s power to stick out exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant life thrives or opt this situation , but is able to adapt and continue its life cps . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanics of their host to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cubicle ’s functionality , outbound signs of a viral infection solvent in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted ontogeny , damaged yield , discolorations or spotlight .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thripid under control . These plant eating insects spread viruses . Viruses can also be innovate by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . unexampled plants should be check into , as well as tools and exist plant . Use only demonstrate semen that is deemed disease - loose . Plant only immune varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not set closely related industrial plant in the same domain every class . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem contain legion bud that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : final , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the hint of sprig or ramification . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a outgrowth and remove the last bud , this will encourage the sidelong bud to grow into side branches result in a slurred , bushier industrial plant . Lateral buds are scummy down on the twig and are often at the full point of folio adhesion . Pruning them encourages the last bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . Dormant bud may remain dormant in the barque or stem and will only develop after the industrial plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before raw increase begins with a sodding fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred clip to cut this plant .
