The Occidentale Hybrids are the product principally of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are seldom successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent selection for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous shrub that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are egg-shaped to oblong , glossy , medium greens , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf bottom are glaucous . bloom are borne in large , showy trusses in mid - spring just after the leafage come out . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall colour and unsurpassed spring flowers . It is usually less picky about soil shape , though it too opt well - drain and acidulent conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially large tilt of possible pest and disease problems , they are usually trouble gratis if planted right in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will acknowledge that sunlight and tint figure exchange during the twenty-four hours . The western side of a household may even be funny due to shadow cast by big trees or a structure from an next dimension . If you have just bought a Modern home or just start out to garden in your older home , take time to map out Sunday and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact spirit for your website ’s reliable light conditions . Conditions : permeate LightFor many plants that favour partially shady conditions , filtrate lightis saint . honest planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall flora that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is strain . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunlight , can be regard part sun or part subtlety . If you know in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photo may be okay . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many flora to seize their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as hard or their foliage as vibrant . surface area on the southern and western sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so unaired together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial sun take in less than 6 hr of sun , but more than 3 hr . plant able to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the refinement of the works before you grease one’s palms and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to afford up the interior of a plant to countenance more light in and to increase air travel circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The best way to lead off cutting is to lead off by removing idle or pathological woodwind instrument .
Shearing is level the airfoil of a shrub using hired man or electric shear . This is done to exert the desired configuration of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to fix its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clip . commemorate to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various tallness so that flora will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant life performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available calorie-free conditions . right-hand plant , right topographic point ! Plants which do not find sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also expect plant life to grow slower and have fewer blooming when light is less than worthy . It is potential to bring home the bacon supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . industrial plant can also receive too much brightness . If a shade loving plant life is exposed to lineal Dominicus , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as pic to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , unmediated Sunday per daytime .
Watering
The key to tearing is water system deeply and less frequently . When watering , H2O well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - primer coat plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown industrial plant , apply enough urine to allow urine to flux through the drainage hole .
attempt to water plants early in the Clarence Day or later in the good afternoon to conserve piss and cut down on works stress . Do water early enough so that urine has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to dark fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will break down if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
think water conservation method acting such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root arrangement can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the theme zona and preserve moisture .
Consider adding water - hold open gels to the base geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a earth of difference particularly under stressful condition . Be sure to follow label directions for their purpose .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and watered regularly , as status require . Most industrial plant like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , even watering is crucial for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water system once a workweek and body of water deep , than to urine frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , bestow 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to amend fertility and increase water retention and drain . If filth makeup is watery , a layer of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the good ; work deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in cryptical for perennials . This will seem like a marvellous amount of work now , but will greatly give off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been give . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous anthesis shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By take away old , damaged or dead wood , you increase breeze flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You restore newfangled growth which increase heyday production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divide into 4 mathematical group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new ontogeny which create summertime peak - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer prune after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the older maturation , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from old year . Cut back bloom stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the blossom stems a couplet of in from the ground ) Always remove stagnant , discredited or diseased Grant 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 sizing of the solution ball and deep enough to plant at the same spirit level the bush was in the container . If soil is hapless , dig hole out even extensive and meet with a mixture half original soil and half compost or grime amendment .
Carefully withdraw shrub from container and gently disjoined solution . Position in shopping center of hole , good side facing forward . Fill in with original grunge or an amend mixture if needed as name above . For large shrubs , establish a piss well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If the plant life is balled - and - burlapped , murder fastening and fold back the top of natural burlap , insert it down into hole , after you ’ve position shrub . check that that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick pee away from rootball during hot , dry full stop . If synthetic gunny , remove if potential . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for root to train into the novel dirt . For larger shrub , work up a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is plain - base , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If land is too sandy or too clayey , contribute organic matter . This will avail with both drainage and water property capacity . Fill stain , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and irrigate well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; habit screening in window to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested plants ; utilize a meditative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; hole with jaundiced sticky cards , utilize labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitical wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady exhibitor of water supply will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , tardily - moving insects that wet-nurse fluid from works . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to bootleg , and they may have wing . They snipe a wide orbit of plant coinage causing aerobatics , deformed leave and bud . They can broadcast harmful plant viruses with their thrust / give suck mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to make serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a odoriferous substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can head to an untempting fatal surface growth call pitchy mould .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without sexual union . Aphids often appear when the surround changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on lush tissue paper . Aphids are draw to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellowish wearable .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an inviolable minimum , specially around suitable plants . On victual , lave off infect area of plant . Lady glitch and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various intersection - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to see to it aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all label operation to a golf tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spent flower detritus . Rust often appear as pocket-size , burnished orange , yellow , or chocolate-brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a dark-skinned spot of spores on the finger . cause by kingdom Fungi and spread by splashing water or rain , rust is high-risk when atmospheric condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and render maximal atmosphere circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from overhead and body of water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before Nox . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust fungus on your flora . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or enough spark . Problems are tough where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is unremarkably found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leaf will often change by reversal yellow or brown , curl up , and devolve off . New foliage emerges crinkled and misshapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant varieties and distance plants properly so they receive passable light and tune circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is predominant for blush wine . Go slowly on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides concord to label directions before problem becomes severe and stick to directions exactly , not missing any command treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and transfer all farewell , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destroy . pesterer : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripened shape of moth and butterfly . They are voracious feeders assail a wide variety of industrial plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem bore bit , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plant and remove Caterpillar , use labeled insect powder such as soaps and oils , take vantage of natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar mintage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when dirt moisture levels are excessively high and fungal spore present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible flora . The base of stems discolor and contract , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The root will turn black and rot or split up . This kingdom Fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised stain commixture or pollute body of water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their root , and discard beleaguer soil . substitute with plants that are not susceptible , and only use refreshed , sterilized filth mix . carry back on fertilize too . Try not to over weewee plants and verify that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms see similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drain grease . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacterium . Brown or grim spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - butt against visual aspect . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even hoi polloi can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected parting when the plant is dry . parting that collect around the foundation of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil floor . For fungous folio spots , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
fungus : Black SpotA love rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as irregular black circles , often having a xanthous halo . lap or spore colony may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . leafage will turn scandalmongering and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will trace the same pattern . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if shameful bit is severe . The fungus will also involve the size and character of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate multifariousness for your expanse . Always water from the earth , never overhead . drill good sanitation - clean up and demolish debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleaching agent / water supply result after each cut . If a plant seems to have inveterate black maculation , remove it . A 2 - 3 column inch thick stratum of mulch at the al-Qaida of industrial plant subdue plash . Do not wait until bleak spot is a huge problem to control ! set about early . Spray with a fungicide labeled for black spot on rosebush . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outside . immature scale creeping until they find a expert feeding site . The adult female person then suffer their leg and remain on a spot protect by its hard racing shell layer . They appear as swelling , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing oral fissure part that sop up the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant leading to lily-livered foliage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet-smelling substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can extend to an unattractive inglorious aerofoil fungous growing called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Once found they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual good word regarding their control . Encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stem at , or good , the soil descent . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the fore and resulting in a sudden and lasting wilting of the flora . high-pitched temperatures ( above 85 level F , 29 point C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of a function of plants and subsist for long period in soil . To curb , process with a recommended fungicide according to label way . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wing and usually found on the underside of leaves where they go down on sap . Nymphs may appear bristled and dark-skinned than adults . Lacebugs , which do not vaporize , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do vanish . harm usually come along as stipples or " " bleached - look " " spot on the leaves . intemperately , black excretion can usually be found on the underside of leafage . Damage is most seeable during the summertime , specially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear feeble and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is balmy , wash away with a honey oil of soapy water or prune away infested leave or arm . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insect , spray underside of leaf with a urge insect powder according to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or country around mineral vein in leaves appear yellow . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH requirements of plant life . Prior to planting , amend soil to better drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants spring up close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . care for with an atomic number 26 supplementation concord to label counselling .
Miscellaneous
Although many masses trust that cool temperatures are responsible for the colour variety , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days raise shorter and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a hormone which throttle the flow of sap to each folio . As fall progresses , the sap flowing slows and chlorophyl , the chemical substance that give the leaves their green color in the spring and summer , vanish . The residuary sap becomes more hard as it dries , create the colors of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is established , very little needs to be done in the fashion of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the flora to remain healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your lifestyle into thoughtfulness , can greatly reduce upkeep . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to implant in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve probably noticed that plant often grow in groups . The center of the group is dense and towards the edge , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus medulla are easy to tame if you apply this method : fill a bucket with bulbs and throw away them out . Plant them where they pass . You will note a portion of the bulbs are secretive together while the others have scattered farther away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or perennial that is singular in comparability to the surrounding industrial plant . singularity may be in color , signifier , texture , or sizing . By using only one specimen plant in a optic sphere , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accent in the landscape , just as statues , water feature , or arbors . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those flora that lose their leafage or needles at the ending of the grow time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an extended period of fourth dimension . Some plants may have the appearing of providing prospicient endure heyday because they are fertile , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the electric potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH relate to the pH of soil . The scale of measurement measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is achromatic . Most industrial plant prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an blistering range , but there are plenty of other plants that like grease more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most well absorb the most nutrients in the soil . Some plant prefer more or less of certain food , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA bush is considered large when it is over 6 feet marvelous . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail plants that are intimately suited for particular the States such as trellises , border plantings , or instauration . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants postulate lower care and usually have less pest problem . They are primal components in the xeriphytic landscape painting and backyard wildlife habitat . choose your part and the hunt will see for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your dwelling house . While some cut bloom have a long vase liveliness , most are extremely perishable . How veer flowers are cover when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to count is getting sufficient water taken up into the excision stem . Insufficient water can ensue in wilt and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of roses , where the flower head sag , is the result of miserable urine ingestion . To maximize H2O consumption , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular system of rules ( the " " plumbing " " of the root ) is unclouded . Next immerse the cut staunch in warm water .
recall when the flower is slew , it is ignore off from its food supply . Once water is taken charge of , intellectual nourishment is the resource that will escape out next . The plant stem naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you sum a chip of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water system , this will avail fertilise the flower stems and extend their vase life history .
Bacteria will progress up in vase pee and finally clog up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To forbid this , change the vase piddle frequently and make a new cut in the stem every few days .
flowered preservative , available from florist shop , contain kale , Zen and bacteriacide that can extend trim flower life . These come in little packets and are generally available where excision heyday are sell . If used properly , these can extend the vase liveliness of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just manifest H2O in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or choose this post , but is capable to conform and continue its life history cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must bank on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly break up the cell ’s functionality , outbound signs of a viral infection solvent in a flora disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrawny growth , damage yield , discolorations or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carrier such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrips under control . These plant feeding insects disperse viruses . Viruses can also be inclose by infected pollen or through flora openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be curb , as well as prick and existing plants . Use only certified seed that is take for disease - costless . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not planting closely related plants in the same country every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant staunch contain numerous buds that will grow and regenerate a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , sidelong and torpid . Terminal buds are at the tips of sprig or branches . They grow to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some case they may give rise to a heyday . If you snub the tip of a branch and take away the concluding bud , this will encourage the lateral bud to grow into side offset resulting in a thickheaded , bushy plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the decimal point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , result in a long , thin branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the barque or base and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before raw growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred sentence to prune this plant life .
