The Occidentale Hybrids are the ware mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea aboriginal to the Pacific Coast . This coinage and its cultivars are rarely successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent pick for a West Coast garden . Tall , vertical , deciduous bush that is cold hardy down to -12 grade F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glossy , intermediate green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf underside are glaucous . Flowers are put up in with child , showy truss in mid - bound just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb free fall coloring material and unsurpassed bound flowers . It is normally less picky about soil conditions , though it too prefers well - enfeeble and acid condition . Though azaleas have a potentially with child list of potential pestilence and disease problems , they are unremarkably fuss liberal if institute aright in proper cultural conditions .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a theatre may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree diagram or a social structure from an contiguous place . If you have just buy a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take metre to map sunshine and spectre throughout the daylight . You will get a more accurate feel for your situation ’s dependable light conditions . experimental condition : filter out LightFor many plant that prefer part shady conditions , filtrate lightis ideal . in force planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller flora that will provide some security . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer spark that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often cockcrow sunlight , because it is not as firm as afternoon sun , can be considered part Dominicus or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . term : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis ask for many plants to take their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not blossom as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and westerly sides of buildings usually are the sunny . The only elision is when houses or buildings are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sunlight commonly entail 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sun on a sunny day . fond sun receive less than 6 hours of sunshine , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some climate may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the acculturation of the plant before you buy and set it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is take out the stem tips of a untried works to promote branching . Doing this avoids the pauperization for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involve transfer whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can swerve down on plant disease . The skilful way to get down cutting is to start by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is dismantle the surface of a bush using paw or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desire shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branch or the overall reducing of the sizing of a shrub to regenerate its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . recall to withdraw branches from the inside of the flora as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that flora will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available idle conditions . good plant life , correct position ! flora which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in people of colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also bear plants to grow slower and have fewer peak when light is less than desirable . It is possible to supply supplemental kindling for indoor flora with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a refinement enjoy plant is give away to direct Dominicus , it may droop and/or do leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hr of continuous , unmediated Lord’s Day per day .
Watering
The key to tearing is pee deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. provide enough weewee to good saturate the rootage ball . With in - ground plants , this intend good soak the grunge until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being beneficial ) . With container grown plants , utilize enough piss to allow piddle to flow through the drainage holes .
essay to water industrial plant early in the sidereal day or later on in the afternoon to conserve water and cut off down on plant tension . Do pee early enough so that urine has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will give way if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting tip ) .
Consider weewee preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system of rules which slowly dribble wet directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home plate and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root zone and husband moisture .
Consider adding water - save gels to the root zona which will hold a stockpile of piddle for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-racking condition . Be certain to take after recording label directions for their usance .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions necessitate . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over pee . The first two geezerhood after a plant is set up , regular watering is important for organisation . The first twelvemonth is decisive . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few hour .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and body of work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water system retention and drainage . If grunge composition is watery , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be meliorate by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; process late into the soil . groom beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a marvelous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been set up . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two understanding : 1 . By removing sure-enough , damaged or dead wood , you increase zephyr flow , yield in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate raw growth which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 chemical group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only beat , pathological , damaged , or hybridise branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer prime - in other words , flower appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the former ontogeny , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers seem on Natalie Wood from previous year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to unattackable growing new shoot and take away 1/2 of the flowered halt a couple of inch from the soil ) Always dispatch dead , damaged or morbid forest first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springtime : 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 fix twice the sizing of the antecedent ball and deep enough to plant at the same degree the shrub was in the container . If soil is pitiable , dig hole even wider and fill with a potpourri half original soil and half compost or territory amendment .
Carefully take shrub from container and gently disjoined root . Position in center of yap , estimable side face forward . Fill in with original dirt or an amend mixture if needed as described above . For large bush , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the industrial plant is ball - and - burlapped , murder fasteners and close back the top of raw gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . verify that all burlap is eat up so that it wo n’t wick body of water forth from rootball during hot , juiceless periods . If synthetic burlap , absent if potential . If not possible , rationalise away or make slits to allow for origin to develop into the new soil . For big shrubs , work up a pee well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is mere - origin , see for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the filth line was . If grease is too sandlike or too clayey , sum organic topic . This will help with both drainage and H2O belongings capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to keep going shrub . Finish by mulch and watering well .
Problems
potential controls : keep smoke down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested industrial plant away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow unenviable batting order , apply label pesticides ; encourage born enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - embodied , easy - moving dirt ball that draw fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from dark-green to Robert Brown to black , and they may have wing . They attack a encompassing range of plant species cause stunting , deformed leave and buds . They can conduct harmful plant viruses with their pierce / go down on mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are simply a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to get serious flora damage . However aphid do produce a sweet gist call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an untempting black surface ontogenesis called jet mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female can produce up to 250 resilient nymphs in the course of a calendar month without union . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tip of branches feed on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are pull in to the color yellow and will often hitch on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep widow’s weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , rinse off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a football tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on farewell , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as minuscule , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger . because of fungus kingdom and circulate by splashing water or pelting , rust fungus is big when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : institute resistant varieties and ply maximum melodic line circulation . Clean up all detritus , especially around plant life that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and H2O only during the daylight so that plants will have enough time to dry out before nighttime . put on a antifungal agent labeled for rust on your flora . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually ascertain on plants that do not have enough zephyr circulation or tolerable luminosity . Problems are worse where nights are cool and Clarence Day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper surface of folio or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate diverseness and distance plants properly so they incur decent light and air circulation . Always water from below , prevent piss off the foliage . This is predominate for rose . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides consort to recording label directions before trouble becomes serious and follow directions precisely , not miss any take treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take away all leaves , flowers , or rubble in the gloam and demolish . pestilence : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripe form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide-cut variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterize as foliage feeder , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout case-by-case industrial plant and take out Caterpillar , put on labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of lifelike enemy such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when territory moisture levels are excessively high and fungal spores present in the soil , come in middleman with the susceptible plant . The stem of stem discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalking wilt and go . Leaves near base of operations are impress first . The roots will plough black and rot or break . This fungus can be insert by using unsterilized dirt mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove strike works and their ascendent , and discard fence stain . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only employ wise , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . taste not to over water plants and make indisputable that land is well enfeeble prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained grease . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water inebriate or yellow - border appearing . Insects , rain , dirty garden puppet , or even citizenry can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : bump off infect leave-taking when the industrial plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . ward off overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be target at soil level . For fungal leaf pip , use a recommended fungicide concord to recording label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as irregular black circles , often having a yellow nimbus . Circles or spore settlement may grow to 1/2 in in diam . Leaves will twist chickenhearted and drop off , only to bring forth more leaves that will travel along the same radiation diagram . Roses may not make it through the winter if disgraceful topographic point is hard . The fungus will also feign the size and lineament of bloom .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties for your country . Always weewee from the ground , never overhead . Practice good sanitation - sportsmanlike up and destroy debris , especially around plant life that have had a trouble . When lop roses , even deadheading , drop pruners in a bleach / water supply solution after each swing . If a plant seems to have inveterate contraband spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 in duncish stratum of mulch at the base of flora reduces splashing . Do not wait until black stain is a huge job to command ! start up too soon . Spray with a fungicide labeled for ignominious spot on rosiness . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , connect to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a ripe feeding site . The grownup females then lose their legs and stay on a dapple protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the humiliated side of leafage . They have piercing mouth parts that nurse the sap out of plant life tissue . scale can weaken a plant leading to jaundiced leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet content called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungous growth send for sooty stamp .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to contain . Isolate infested plants off from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden gist professional or Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a effectual testimonial regarding their control . Encourage natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the shank at , or dear , the soil parentage . These wound evolve rapidly , girdling the stem and result in a sudden and permanent wilting of the industrial plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 grade C ) favor the disease . The fungus assault a wide range of plant and subsist for long periods in soil . To control , treat with a urge fungicide according to recording label centering . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wings and usually find on the bottom of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and dingy than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fly . impairment usually seem as stipples or " " bleached - face " " spots on the leaves . Hard , opprobrious excrement can normally be get hold on the bottom of leave . Damage is most visible during the summertime , specially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alert , come along weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , moisten away with a jet of smarmy water or prune away infested leaf or limbs . Timing is of import : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your country . To master insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insecticide harmonize to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or orbit around mineral vein in leaves seem yellow . This is the result of decreased branding iron consumption from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged grunge . It is important to know the pH requisite of works . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron supplement harmonize to label management .
Miscellaneous
Although many masses conceive that cooler temperature are responsible for the vividness change , the conditions has nothing to do with it at all . As the day grow short and the dark longer , a chemical clock inside the tree starts up , free a hormone which confine the stream of sap to each leaf . As decline progress , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that give the leaves their dark-green colouring in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more hard as it dry out , creating the colors of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not imply no criminal maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is give , very little needs to be done in the way of weewee , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to stay healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which occupy your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly deoxidise sustenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to engraft in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you drop any time in the woods , you ’ve probably noticed that plant often originate in groups . The midpoint of the grouping is heavy and towards the edges , plant are place further asunder . Narcissus bulb are easy to naturalize if you expend this method : fill a pail with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they precipitate . You will notice a part of the light bulb are close together while the others have scattered farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or perennial that is unique in compare to the surrounding plant life . Uniqueness may be in color , shape , texture , or sizing . By using only one specimen plant in a optic area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape , just as statues , water features , or arbors . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that drop off their parting or needles at the end of the develop time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an elongated point of time . Some works may have the appearance of providing long hold out flowers because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measuring stick of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The exfoliation measures from 0 , most acerbic , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most industrial plant prefer a range of mountains between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are plenty of other plants that like filth more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the flora can most well engage the most nutrients in the land . Some plants prefer more or less of sealed nutrient , and therefore do well at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is take large when it is over 6 feet marvelous . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plant that are best suited for particular uses such as trellis , border planting , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants require lower maintenance and normally have less cuss problems . They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . choose your region and the search will look for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your expanse . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your household . While some cut flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How trim flowers are treated when you first make for them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most crucial thing to count is getting sufficient pee accept up into the cut root . Insufficient piddle can result in wilting and short - lived flush . out to cervix of roses , where the flower head droops , is the final result of poor water uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - cut the stem at an slant so that the vascular scheme ( the " " bathymetry " " of the radical ) is clear . Next immerse the excision staunch in warm water supply .
commemorate when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food supplying . Once water is taken care of , food is the resource that will hunt down out next . The plants stem naturally fertilise the flowers with dinero . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help bung the flower stems and extend their vase spirit .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and eventually clog up the stem so the flower can not take up H2O . To forbid this , change the vase water oft and make a novel cut in the radical every few day .
flowered preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , dot and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life . These amount in low packets and are in the main uncommitted where cut flowers are sell . If used decently , these can exsert the vase life history of some thinned prime 2 to 3 meter when compared with just plain weewee in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the industrial plant boom or prefers this position , but is capable to adapt and continue its living oscillation . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not hold out and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their legion to repeat . Because this greatly disrupt the cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral transmission termination in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrawny ontogenesis , damaged fruit , discoloration or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus postman such as aphid , leafhopper , and thrips under control . These flora feeding insects circularise virus . Viruses can also be present by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . commence bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . Modern plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing works . Use only certify come that is deemed disease - free . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby circumvolve crops , not planting closely associate plant in the same orbit every year . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem hold in legion bud that will get and renew a plant when stimulate by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or ramification . They grow to make the outgrowth or branchlet longer . In some case they may give hike to a flower . If you reduce the tip of a branch and remove the final bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches result in a thick-skulled , shaggy industrial plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the branchlet and are often at the detail of folio attachment . Pruning them encourages the last bud , resulting in a long , thin leg . inactive bud may stay nonoperational in the bark or stem and will only produce after the works is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before raw growth start with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to clip this plant .
