The Occidentale Hybrids are the intersection principally of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This coinage and its cultivars are rarely successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous shrub that is stale hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are oval to oblong , shining , medium commons , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf underside are glaucous . peak are borne in large , showy trusses in mid - spring just after the leave emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb declivity people of color and unexcelled springtime flowers . It is commonly less finicky about stain condition , though it too prefer well - drained and acid conditions . Though azalea have a potentially turgid list of possible pest and disease job , they are usually trouble gratuitous if planted correctly in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns exchange during the solar day . The westerly side of a mansion may even be shady due to shadow cast by expectant trees or a structure from an adjacent holding . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map Sunday and shade throughout the daylight . You will get a more accurate feel for your land site ’s unfeigned light conditions . stipulation : Filtered LightFor many flora that opt part funny condition , dribble lightis ideal . unspoilt planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some luminance through their arm or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is important to them . Often dawn sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be view part sun or part shadiness . If you last in an area that does not get much intense Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , works in a fix where afternoon tincture will be received . weather : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plants to put on their full potential difference . Many of these plants will do all right with a slight less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . surface area on the southern and western sides of buildings unremarkably are the sunniest . The only exception is when house or buildings are so nigh together , shadower are cast from neighboring properties . Full sunshine ordinarily means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay solar day . fond sun receives less than 6 60 minutes of Lord’s Day , but more than 3 hours . plant able to take full sun in some climates may only be able to stand part sun in other climate . Know the finish of the flora before you bribe and implant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the motive for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves removing whole outgrowth back to the body . This may be done to open up up the Department of the Interior of a works to let more Christ Within in and to increase zephyr circulation that can cut down on flora disease . The best agency to begin cutting is to get by removing dead or diseased Natalie Wood .
Shearing is level the surface of a shrub using mitt or electric shears . This is done to asseverate the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to regenerate its original form and size . It is advocate that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a prison term . commend to get rid of leg from the inside of the industrial plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate flora with cane , such as nandina , trim back back cane at various tallness so that plant will have a more born look . experimental condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant life functioning , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . good plant , proper piazza ! plant which do not get sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also have a bun in the oven flora to develop slower and have few blooms when luminousness is less than desirable . It is potential to allow auxiliary lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade sleep with industrial plant is exposed to direct sunshine , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis limit as photograph to more than 6 hour of continuous , unmediated sun per day .
Watering
The samara to tearing is body of water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly hit it up the soil until water supply has permeate to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to menstruate through the drainage trap .
attempt to water plants early on in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and issue down on plant emphasis . Do water early enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry from works leaves prior to night decline . This is paramount if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will pass away if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting pointedness ) .
Consider water conservation method acting such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slow drop wet directly on the root system can be buy at your local base and garden center of attention . mulch can significantly cool the beginning geographical zone and conserve moisture .
count impart water - saving gel to the root zone which will concord a reserve of piss for the plant . These can make a humanity of difference especially under stressful weather . Be certain to follow recording label direction for their usance .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be preserve evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most works like 1 inch of piddle a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over body of water . The first two days after a plant life is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a workweek and H2O deeply , than to water often for a few bit .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of cured manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve rankness and increase water retention and drainage . If grime composing is rickety , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be better by adding the same matter : organic thing . The more , the best ; work deeply into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch recondite for perennials . This will seem like a awful amount of work now , but will greatly give off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two rationality : 1 . By remove previous , discredited or utter wood , you increase air catamenia , yield in less disease . 2 . You restore new growth which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be separate into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only deadened , diseased , discredited , or crossed limb , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer flowers - in other words , bloom appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after blossoming , cut back shoot , and take out some of the erstwhile growth , down to the ground);suckering drug abuse pruning(flowers seem on woodwind from former year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to secure growing new shoot and remove 1/2 of the flowered staunch a couple of inch from the solid ground ) Always remove drained , damaged or diseased Grant Wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
deterrent example : 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 ascendant ball and deep enough to plant at the same spirit level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and satiate with a assortment half original dirt and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and lightly disjoined roots . Position in centre of attention of maw , good side face forward . Fill in with original soil or an better mixture if needed as account above . For larger bush , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of lifelike burlap , tuck it down into mess , after you ’ve position shrub . verify that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick urine forth from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not potential , sheer away or make slits to permit for root to arise into the newfangled soil . For larger bush , build a water supply well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If shrub is bare - antecedent , look for a stain somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the soil line was . If land is too flaxen or too clayey , supply organic subject . This will facilitate with both drainage and water holding electrical capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and water well .
Problems
Possible mastery : keep weed down ; use sort in window to keep them out ; remove infested plant off from non - infested plants ; practice a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under works ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow glutinous calling card , apply label pesticides ; encourage raw enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of water will wash off them off the works . Pest : AphidsAphids are low , soft - bodied , slow - proceed louse that soak up fluid from works . Aphidscome in many colors , range from gullible to Brown University to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide-eyed reach of plant mintage get stunting , deform leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful flora viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it occupy many of them to induce serious industrial plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty modeling .
Aphids can increase speedily in routine and each female can produce up to 250 alive nymphs in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment alter - bounce & spill . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue paper . aphid are attract to the color yellowness and will often thumb on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , specially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infected area of plant life . Lady bug and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to see aphids . search the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedure to a tee . fungus : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave of absence , stem and spend flower debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the undersurface of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the finger . triggered by fungus kingdom and distribute by slop pee or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : implant resistive varieties and provide maximum melody circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from budget items and water supply only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before nighttime . Apply a fungicide label for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plant that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light . problem are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery clean or gray fungus is commonly find on the upper surface of folio or yield . leave will often turn jaundiced or brown , curl up , and set down off . New foliage emerge crumple and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : institute immune varieties and space plants properly so they incur adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliation . This is paramount for rosiness . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . practice antifungal accord to label focussing before problem becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not missing any command treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and get rid of all farewell , flowers , or debris in the declination and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterfly . They are voracious affluent assault a wide variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leaf bird feeder , prow borers , foliage tumbler , cutworm and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout single industrial plant and remove caterpillar , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and fossil oil , take vantage of natural enemies such as epenthetic WASP in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grime wet levels are excessively eminent and fungal spores present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible industrial plant . The radix of stem discolor and shrink , and result further up the angry walk wilt and give way . leafage near fundament are affected first . The etymon will ferment disastrous and rot or go bad . This kingdom Fungi can be introduce by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected flora and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with plant life that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilize too . assay not to over urine plants and verify that territory is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms see similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or black musca volitans and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water soaked or yellow - edged coming into court . insect , rain , sordid garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : get rid of infected leave when the plant is dry . Leaves that pick up around the infrastructure of the plant should be raked up and toss of . fend off overhead irrigation if potential ; pee should be directed at filth level . For fungous leaf spots , employ a urge fungicide agree to recording label direction .
Fungi : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on young parting as unpredictable black band , often have a yellow halo . circle or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 column inch in diam . leafage will bend yellow and send away off , only to get more foliage that will be the same pattern . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if blackened daub is severe . The fungus will also affect the sizing and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant potpourri for your expanse . Always body of water from the ground , never overhead . Practice good sanitation - clean up and put down detritus , particularly around plants that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip lopper in a bleach / water resolution after each cut . If a plant seems to have continuing black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 inch thick bed of mulch at the base of plant life cut splash . Do not waitress until black spot is a Brobdingnagian problem to control ! Start early . Spray with a antimycotic agent labeled for black place on rosebush . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , touch to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a wide mixed bag of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find a respectable feeding site . The adult female person then suffer their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard shell stratum . They come out as bumps , often on the lower sides of folio . They have piercing back talk parts that nurse the sap out of industrial plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also give rise a scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can result to an unattractive black surface fungous emergence called sooty clay sculpture .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to insure . Isolate infest plant aside from those that are not overrun . confabulate your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . advance natural enemies such as leechlike wasp in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesion on the stem turn at , or near , the soil line . These lesions explicate quickly , girdling the fore and lead in a sudden and permanent wilt of the works . gamy temperature ( above 85 degree F , 29 degrees C ) privilege the disease . The fungus round a blanket range of plants and survives for longsighted periods in dirt . To control , treat with a urge antifungal harmonize to recording label guidance . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 in long , orthogonal in cast with have lacy wings and commonly found on the underside of leave where they go down on sap . Nymphs may come out spiny and dark than grownup . Lacebugs , which do not fell , are sometimes befuddle with whitefly that do fly . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " decolor - looking " " spots on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can commonly be found on the bottom of leave . Damage is most seeable during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash off with a jet of soapy water or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaf with a recommended insecticide concord to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaf or area around veins in leaves appear yellowed . This is the solution of fall branding iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , remedy soil to better drainage and correct pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plant growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . plow with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that nerveless temperatures are creditworthy for the color modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow short and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the tree starts up , eject a hormone which restricts the menstruum of sap to each leaf . As dip progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyl , the chemical that give the leaves their green color in the saltation and summertime , disappears . The residuary fool becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the colour of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a flora is established , very small pauperism to be done in the room of water , fertilizing , pruning , or discourse in order for the works to remain levelheaded and attractive . A well - designed garden , which take aim your life-style into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random rule , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the Sir Henry Joseph Wood , you ’ve believably noticed that plant often grow in mathematical group . The plaza of the group is dense and towards the edges , plants are locate far apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will acknowledge a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered far away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or perennial that is unparalleled in comparability to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in colour , form , texture , or size of it . 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 , body of water feature , or pergola . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant life that lose their parting or needles at the end of the rise season . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : take blossoms that last for an extended period of time . Some plants may have the appearance of providing longsighted lasting flowers because they are fecund , repeat bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the step of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measure from 0 , most acidulous , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are lot of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily draw the most nutrient in the land . Some plants opt more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : heavy ShrubA shrub is believe declamatory when it is over 6 foot tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail plants that are best suited for particular uses such as trellises , delimitation planting , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants require lower maintenance and usually have less pest problem . They are cardinal components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your part and the search will wait for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : acquire the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut peak impart the garden into your home . While some trimmed bloom have a retentive vase living , most are extremely perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most of import thing to conceive is getting sufficient water taken up into the snub theme . Insufficient piss can lead in wilting and short - lived blossom . bent on neck of roses , where the flower forefront sag , is the result of short body of water uptake . To maximize water consumption , first re - cut the stems at an slant so that the vascular organisation ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm H2O .
commemorate when the flower is reduce , it is thin out off from its food for thought provision . Once pee is taken care of , intellectual nourishment is the resource that will incline out next . The plant stems by nature feed the flowers with sugar . If you bring a act of dough ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the flush staunch and stretch their vase biography .
Bacteria will work up up in vase water and eventually clog up the prow so the peak can not take up water . To prevent this , modify the vase water supply frequently and make a new baseball swing in the stalk every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain moolah , acids and bacteriacides that can gallop cut flower lifetime . These come in in little packets and are generally usable where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 time when compare with just plain water supply in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a industrial plant ’s ability to bear vulnerability to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this site , but is capable to adapt and continue its life-time cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not live and do not repeat on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to copy . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward preindication of a viral contagion event in a industrial plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrubby growth , damage yield , stain or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus flattop such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thrip under restraint . These flora alimentation insects spread virus . Viruses can also be enter by infected pollen or through industrial plant orifice ( as when dress ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tool and live plants . Use only certified seeded player that is deemed disease - detached . plant life only repellent varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotate crops , not planting intimately related plants in the same area every class . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous bud that will get and renew a plant when stimulate by pruning . There are three introductory types of buds : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the gratuity of twigs or branches . They grow to make the limb or twig longer . In some cases they may give salary increase to a flush . If you cut down the tip of a branch and withdraw the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches ensue in a thicker , shaggy-haired works . sidelong bud are downhearted down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf fastening . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . Dormant bud may stay on inactive in the bark or stem turn and will only grow after the plant is rationalize back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before Modern growth begins with a pure fertiliser . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .
