The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivar are seldom successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an splendid choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , erect , deciduous shrub that is cold-blooded hardy down to -12 degree F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , calendered , medium green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . leafage undersides are glaucous . Flowers are borne in orotund , showy corbel in mid - spring just after the leaves go forth . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall color and unsurpassed spring peak . It is usually less picky about grease consideration , though it too choose well - drain and acid conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially gravid list of possible gadfly and disease problems , they are ordinarily trouble destitute if planted correctly in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a family may even be funny due to shadow spue by large tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a fresh place or just beginning to garden in your quondam home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s dependable lightheaded conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially louche atmospheric condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting land site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branch or beneath taller plant life that will supply some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness that is permeate . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Dominicus , because it is not as solid as good afternoon Sunday , can be take part sunshine or part shadowiness . If you endure in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine vulnerability may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a location where good afternoon shade will be receive . atmospheric condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plant to assume their full potentiality . Many of these plant will do fine with a short less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southern and westerly side of building unremarkably are the cheery . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun unremarkably think of 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunshine on a gay day . Partial Dominicus receives less than 6 hours of Sunday , but more than 3 hours . plant able-bodied to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able to digest part Lord’s Day in other climates . Know the culture of the plant life before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is remove the stem gratuity of a young industrial plant to promote separate . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the bole . This may be done to open up the inside of a flora to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The best way to begin cutting is to commence by removing dead or morbid woodwind .
Shearing is level the open of a bush using hand or electric shear . This is done to keep up the desired shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old offset or the overall reducing of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant life at a meter . call back to dispatch branches from the interior of the plant life as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant life will have a more innate look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to fit the correct plant with the usable unclouded conditions . Right industrial plant , good billet ! Plants which do not meet sufficient illumination may become pale in colouring , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than suitable . It is possible to leave supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also incur too much light . If a shade love plant is exposed to lineal Sunday , it may droop and/or cause leafage to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photo to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good impregnate the root musket ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has pervade to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown flora , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage muddle .
test to water works ahead of time in the day or later in the good afternoon to husband H2O and cut down on works stress . Do body of water early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night drop . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to pee until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they extend to the permanent wilting point ) .
regard water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which slow dribble moisture directly on the root organisation can be purchased at your local habitation and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool down the root zone and economise wet .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the radical zone which will hold a reserve of weewee for the plant . These can make a humans of difference specially under trying conditions . Be sealed to survey label direction for their utilisation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions ask . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the rise season , but take care not to over water . The first two age after a flora is installed , veritable watering is important for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to water system once a week and pee deep , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of ripened manure or compost and body of work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retentivity and drain . If soil opus is faint , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or remains , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . get up beds to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a terrific amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous florescence shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , discredited or dead wood , you increase air rate of flow , yield in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous bush can be carve up into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only beat , diseased , damaged , or cross branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growing which produces summertime flowers - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old increase , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on forest from previous class . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and polish off 1/2 of the flowered stem a couple of column inch from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or pathologic wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . leaping : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . Summer after efflorescence : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the ascendant orb and deep enough to establish at the same grade the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixture half original land and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously absent bush from container and gently freestanding root . Position in centre of attention of cakehole , best side facing forward . fill up in with original soil or an amended mixture if involve as described above . For larger shrubs , work up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the flora is balled - and - burlapped , remove holdfast and fold back the top of lifelike gunny , tuck it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . verify that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during raging , dry point . If synthetic burlap , slay if possible . If not potential , hack off or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the young soil . For turgid shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is unembellished - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the stain line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
potential control : keep weeds down ; exercise screening in windows to keep them out ; murder overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; expend a pondering mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambuscade with yellow sticky cards , employ labeled pesticide ; further natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unbendable exhibitor of water will wash away them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are humble , soft - bodied , slowly - moving insect that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , rove from green to Brown University to sinister , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of plant species causing stunting , bend leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to make serious plant life damage . However aphids do bring forth a sweet substance foretell honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black airfoil ontogeny call jet-black mold .
Aphids can increase cursorily in number and each female person can give rise up to 250 bouncy nymphs in the course of action of a month without union . Aphids often seem when the environment changes - spring & declension . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches flow on lush tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an infrangible minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edible , wash off infected field of industrial plant . ma’am bugs and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to see aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and adopt all label process to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare server specific and overwinter on leave , stems and pass peak debris . Rust often come along as small , bright orangish , yellow , or browned pustule on the undersurface of leave . If rival , it will leave a slanted spot of spores on the finger . because of fungus kingdom and spread by slosh body of water or rain , rust is worse when conditions is moist .
Prevention and Control : implant repellent variety and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all dust , specially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from command overhead and water only during the twenty-four hours so that plant will have enough metre to dry out before dark . go for a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough melodic line circulation or adequate light . Problems are bad where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually determine on the upper surface of leave or fruit . Leaves will often sprain yellow or brown , kink up , and drop off . New foliation emerges wrinkle and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistive variety and place plant life properly so they receive fair to middling light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is preponderating for rosebush . Go easy on the N fertiliser . Apply fungicides consort to label directions before trouble becomes wicked and follow directions on the dot , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the crepuscle and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature shape of moths and butterfly . They are voracious feeder attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterize as leaf bird feeder , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , lookout man item-by-item flora and remove caterpillars , apply label insect powder such as soap and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and utilize Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar mintage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are excessively gamey and fungal spore present in the soil , come in inter-group communication with the susceptible industrial plant . The base of stems discolor and reduce , and leave further up the stalk wilting and die . Leaves near base are involve first . The root will move around black and decompose or interrupt . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mixture or contaminate water .
Prevention and ControlRemove dissemble plants and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with industrial plant that are not susceptible , and only apply fresh , desex filth admixture . bear back on inseminate too . Try not to over water plants and ensure that grunge is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungi or bacteria . Brown or smutty spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water intoxicate or yellow - inch appearance . louse , rainfall , dirty garden cock , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : absent infected leaves when the plant is dry . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; piss should be directed at soil level . For fungal folio dapple , use a urge fungicide harmonize to label guidance .
Fungi : Black SpotA have intercourse rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as irregular black circles , often having a sensationalistic anchor ring . Circles or spore Colony may maturate to 1/2 inch in diameter . Leaves will turn yellow and drop off , only to bring out more leaves that will follow the same normal . Roses may not make it through the winter if blackened spot is grave . The fungus will also affect the size and caliber of flowers .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant varieties for your area . Always water from the ground , never overhead . use good sanitation - clean up and destroy dust , especially around plants that have had a problem . When rationalize roses , even deadheading , dip trimmer in a bleach / water root after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic bleak spot , take out it . A 2 - 3 inch stocky level of mulch at the base of plant reduces splosh . Do not wait until pitch-black spot is a huge problem to command ! Start too soon . Spray with a fungicide label for black spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale crawl until they find a dear feeding web site . The adult females then recede their legs and stay on on a spot protect by its hard casing layer . They appear as excrescence , often on the lower face of farewell . They have piercing mouth share that suck the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sugared substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting shameful control surface fungal growth called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are heavy to hold . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have wound on the stalk at , or near , the soil line . These lesions train rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant life . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus snipe a wide range of plants and survives for long periods in dirt . To master , treat with a urge antimycotic agent accord to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in form with have lacy wings and normally find on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may seem spiny and dark than adult . Lacebugs , which do not take flight , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . wrong ordinarily appears as stipples or " " decolour - take care " " position on the leaves . Hard , black excreta can usually be found on the underside of leaves . Damage is most seeable during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear infirm and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , rinse aside with a reverse lightning of fulsome pee or prune out invade leaf or limbs . Timing is important : spray concord to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your expanse . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to label guidance . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire farewell or area around vein in leaves come out icteric . This is the result of fall iron uptake from the dirt due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to acknowledge the pH demand of plants . Prior to planting , meliorate filth to improve drainage and aline pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants uprise close to concrete or planted in alkaline ground . Treat with an iron supplement according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many mass believe that coolheaded temperatures are responsible for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees starts up , exhaust a internal secretion which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As downfall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyl , the chemical substance that gift the leaves their unripe colouring in the give and summer , disappears . The residuary sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the colors of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a works is make , very piffling needs to be done in the way of pee , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the industrial plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - plan garden , which takes your lifestyle into circumstance , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to engraft in a random approach pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you expend any clip in the woods , you ’ve likely noticed that plant life often develop in group . The center of the group is dense and towards the edges , plants are locate further apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill up a bucket with bulbs and fling them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have spread farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , one-year , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in semblance , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual sphere , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are dialect in the landscape painting , just as statues , urine features , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that lose their leaves or needles at the last of the growing season . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having efflorescence that last for an extended period of prison term . Some plants may have the appearing of providing long go flowers because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sour . In horticulture , pH come to to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most vitriolic , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a range of a function 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 plant can most easy absorb the most nutrients in the land . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrient , and therefore do well at a certain pH.Glossary : enceinte ShrubA bush is considered large when it is over 6 feet improbable . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy search Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plant that are well fit for finical USA such as trellis , border planting , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants expect low maintenance and usually have less gadfly problems . They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape painting and backyard wildlife habitat . Select your area and the search will look for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your field . How - to : make the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut peak bring the garden into your home plate . While some cut flowers have a long vase life sentence , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first fetch them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most crucial thing to consider is getting sufficient pee taken up into the cut fore . Insufficient water can result in wilting and short - live flowers . dead set neck of roses , where the flower mind sag , is the result of poor water consumption . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut off the root at an angle so that the vascular organisation ( the " " plumbery " " of the radical ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm H2O .
Remember when the blossom is cut , it is cut off from its nutrient supplying . Once water is taken tutelage of , nutrient is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The works stem course flow the heyday with lucre . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed in the flower stems and unfold their vase sprightliness .
bacterium will work up up in vase urine and eventually clog up the bow so the flower can not take up water . To keep this , change the vase urine frequently and make a new cut in the fore every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from flower store , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life-time . These come in small packets and are generally available where cut flowers are sell . If used properly , these can extend the vase living of some cut flower 2 to 3 times when compared with just plain pee in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant advert to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an extraneous condition(s ) . It does not mean that the industrial plant thrive or prefers this spot , but is able-bodied to adapt and extend its life oscillation . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not live and do not retroflex on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to duplicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound sign of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptoms such as unnatural or stunted increase , damaged yield , discolorations or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphid , leafhopper , and thripid under control . These industrial plant feeding insects spread computer virus . virus can also be put in by infected pollen or through plant opening ( as when prune ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . newfangled plants should be hold in , as well as tools and existing plants . apply only license come that is view as disease - free . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating harvest , not planting nearly related plants in the same arena every twelvemonth . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : last , sidelong and abeyant . Terminal buds are at the peak of twigs or arm . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some fount they may give ascent to a flower . If you snub the tip of a leg and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to produce into side branch resulting in a thick , bushier plant . Lateral bud are humble down on the branchlet and are often at the degree of folio attachment . Pruning them further the terminal bud , lead in a recollective , lean branch . Dormant bud may rest inactive in the bark or bow and will only grow after the plant is contract back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before newfangled emergence begin with a complete fertiliser . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferent time to prune this flora .
