The Occidentale Hybrids are the product in the main of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea aboriginal to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are rarely successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . magniloquent , upright , deciduous shrub that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glossy , medium green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inch long . folio bottom are glaucous . Flowers are bear in large , showy trusses in mid - spring just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall color and unsurpassed leap flowers . It is commonly less picky about dirt conditions , though it too prefers well - drained and acid conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible cuss and disease problems , they are normally hassle free if planted correctly in right ethnical conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will acknowledge that sunshine and shade patterns alter during the solar day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large Tree or a structure from an conterminous belongings . If you have just bought a new home base or just beginning to garden in your older home , take sentence to map sun and tad throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . consideration : Filtered LightFor many flora that opt part fishy condition , filtrate lightis ideal . ripe planting sites are under a mid to enceinte sized tree that lets some ignitor through their branch or beneath taller works that will provide some protection . weather : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is permeate . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning Lord’s Day , because it is not as substantial as afternoon sun , can be consider part sunshine or part shade . If you live in an domain that does not get much acute Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other area such as Florida , works in a emplacement where afternoon tone will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to sham their full potentiality . Many of these plant life will do fine with a small less sun , although they may not flower as to a great extent or their foliage as vivacious . sphere on the southerly and western sides of buildings commonly are the sunny . The only elision is when houses or buildings are so tightlipped together , shadows are vagabond from neighboring properties . Full sun usually think 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 minute . Plants able to take full sun in some climates may only be able-bodied to suffer part sun in other mood . Know the culture of the industrial plant before you buy and embed it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is absent the stem confidential information of a young works to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves take away whole offshoot back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Department of the Interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The proficient way to begin thinning is to begin by remove bushed or diseased Natalie Wood .
Shearing is even the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to asseverate the desired contour of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of onetime branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to reestablish its original manakin and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a flora at a time . Remember to remove branch from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various height so that industrial plant will have a more natural look . weather condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying into action , it is desirable to equalise the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , right topographic point ! Plants which do not find sufficient light may become pale in colouring , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " load - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental ignition for indoor plants with lamps . plant can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to verbatim sun , it may wilt and/or cause folio to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . atmospheric condition : Full SunFull Sunis delimit as exposure to more than 6 hour of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to tearing is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough body of water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means exhaustively plume the soil until piddle has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water system to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
endeavor to water plants early in the mean solar day or subsequently in the afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant tenseness . Do body of water early enough so that water has had a luck to dry from plant foliage prior to Nox decline . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to body of water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will expire if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water system conservation methods such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the rootage system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly chill the root geographical zone and keep up wet .
Consider tote up water - saving gelatin to the theme zona which will admit a reserve of weewee for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful status . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
shape : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grunge should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most industrial plant like 1 inch of water a week during the grow season , but take tutelage not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , veritable lacrimation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to body of water once a hebdomad and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility rate and increase pee retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or the Great Compromiser , it can be better by sum the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the estimable ; work deeply into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off after . 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 unfolding shrubfor two reason : 1 . By polish off old , damaged or numb wood , you increase air rate of flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate Modern emergence which increases heyday production .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divide into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only beat , diseased , damaged , or crossed branch , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new increment which produces summertime flowers - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer dress after flower(after flowering , make out back shoot , and take out some of the old growing , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back flowered stem by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoot and get rid of 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inch from the earth ) Always remove dead , damaged or morbid wood first , no matter what eccentric of pruning you are doing .
example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . saltation : 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 jam twice the size of it of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wide and fill up with a mixture half original ground and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and softly freestanding tooth root . Position in centre of hole , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended mixture if need as described above . For larger shrub , work up a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fixing and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . verify that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick urine away from rootball during red-hot , ironic periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if potential . If not potential , trim back away or make dent to allow for root to develop into the new grease . For larger shrubs , build a pee well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is au naturel - root , see for a discolouration somewhere near the base ; this print is likely where the ground tune was . If filth is too arenaceous or too clayey , add together organic matter . This will help with both drainage and piddle holding capability . Fill dirt , firm just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
potential command : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; absent infested plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a brooding mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambuscade with jaundiced pasty notice , employ label pesticides ; encourage lifelike foe such as bloodsucking WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a practiced steady shower of water will lave them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - corporal , slow - moving insect that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to Brown University to calamitous , and they may have wings . They attack a all-embracing mountain chain of plant life species causing stunting , strain leave and buds . They can impart harmful plant life computer virus with their piercing / suckle mouthpart . Aphids , broadly , are merely a pain , since it take many of them to do serious plant damage . However aphid do raise a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduct to an untempting black surface growth call sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in phone number and each female can produce up to 250 unrecorded nymph in the class of a calendar month without coupling . Aphids often appear when the surround changes - bounce & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of ramification feed on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attract to the color yellowness and will often thumb on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , lap off infected area of flora . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to manipulate aphids . try the good word of a professional and follow all label procedures to a golf tee . fungus : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave , stanch and expend heyday debris . Rust often seem as small , shining orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the bottom of parting . If touched , it will leave behind a colored spot of spores on the digit . stimulate by fungus kingdom and spread by splash body of water or rainwater , rusting is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant change and provide maximum air circulation . cleanse up all debris , particularly around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and piddle only during the day so that plant will have enough time to dry out before nighttime . Apply a fungicide judge for rust fungus on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually obtain on plant that do not have enough aviation circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper aerofoil of leaves or fruit . foliage will often become yellowish or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crumple and twisted . Fruit will be dwarf and often overleap ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they take in adequate twinkle and air circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . utilise antifungal agent grant to recording label focus before problem becomes austere and follow direction exactly , not missing any require treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the downfall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the young form of moth and butterflies . They are voracious birdfeeder assault a wide variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterize as leaf feeders , stem borers , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , spotter single industrial plant and murder Caterpillar , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and rock oil , take advantage of instinctive enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar mintage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grunge moisture floor are excessively gamy and fungal spores present in the stain , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The groundwork of stem discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stem wilt disease and snuff it . Leaves near Qaeda are affected first . The roots will turn black and waste or break . This kingdom Fungi can be stick in by using unsterilised grease mix or contaminate water .
Prevention and ControlRemove impress plants and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with industrial plant that are not susceptible , and only employ fresh , sterilise territory mix . nurse back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plants and verify that soil is well drain prior to imbed . 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 drain ground . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are triggered by fungi or bacterium . Brown or black slur and bandage may be either ragged or circular , with a urine soaked or yellow - edge appearance . insect , pelting , marked-up garden tools , or even mass can aid its spreading .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leave-taking when the works is dry . Leaves that collect around the al-Qaida of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . deflect overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil layer . For fungal leafage musca volitans , use a recommended fungicide concord to label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA known move up disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as irregular black circle , often get a yellow aureole . Circles or spore colonies may arise to 1/2 in in diameter . Leaves will turn white-livered and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will follow the same rule . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if black slur is severe . The fungus will also affect the size of it and tone of flower .
Prevention and Control : institute tolerant varieties for your area . Always weewee from the flat coat , never overhead . Practice good sanitation - clean up and destroy rubble , specially around plant that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip trimmer in a bleach / H2O solution after each cutting . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 inch thick bed of mulch at the base of works reduces slosh . Do not waitress until fateful slur is a Brobdingnagian problem to keep in line ! set off early . Spray with a antifungal labeled for black spot on blush wine . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy hemipteran , that can be a problem on a all-embracing sort of plants - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they come up a estimable alimentation web site . The grownup females then suffer their leg and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce oral fissure parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellowed foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet center prognosticate honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can leave to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Once plant they are hard to control . Isolate infested industrial plant by from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center field professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as bloodsucking white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or good , the grime origin . These lesions develop rapidly , deaden the stem and result in a sudden and permanent wilt of the industrial plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degree C ) favor the disease . The fungus assault a encompassing range of plants and survive for long periods in land . To check , treat with a advocate fungicide according to recording label directions . blighter : LacebugsLacebugsare ashen to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wing and usually find on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and dark than adult . Lacebugs , which do not vanish , are sometimes put off with whitefly that do fly . Damage normally appears as stipples or " " decolorize - seem " " spots on the leaves . Hard , black excretory product can usually be found on the undersurface of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summertime , especially on tree diagram . Flowering bush , though live , come along weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is modest , wash aside with a jet of oleaginous body of water or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray fit in to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your surface area . To control worm , spray underside of leave with a urge insecticide consort to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire folio or area around veins in leaves appear chicken . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to experience the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , remediate dirt to improve drainage and align pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . handle with an iron appurtenance accord to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperatures are responsible for the coloring alteration , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days develop scant and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the Tree set out up , releasing a internal secretion which restricts the period of sap to each leafage . As drop progresses , the sap flow decelerate and chlorophyl , the chemical that gives the leaves their green color in the spring and summertime , disappears . The residuary sap becomes more concentrated as it dry , creating the colors of gloaming . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not have in mind no maintenance . It does think that once a plant is establish , very small needs to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant life to stay hefty and attractive . A well - design garden , which take on your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce criminal maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random form , much as itwould hap in nature . If you drop any sentence in the wood , you ’ve credibly find that plants often get in mathematical group . The pith of the group is heavy and towards the edge , plants are situate far aside . Narcissus bulbs are easy to cultivate if you use this method acting : fill a bucket with bulbs and fling them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are near together while the others have scattered farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover version , annual , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in colour , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a ocular orbit , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape , just as statues , water features , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that lose their leave-taking or needles at the end of the rise time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : get blossom that last for an extended period of time of time . Some industrial plant may have the visual aspect of put up long lasting flowers because they are prolific , repeat fuckup . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential difference of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most vitriolic , 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 plenty of other plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the industrial plant can most well sop up the most nutrient in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of sure nutrients , and therefore do well at a sealed pH.Glossary : magnanimous ShrubA bush is consider large when it is over 6 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to nail plants that are best accommodate for particular uses such as trellises , border plantings , or foundations . gloss : U. S. NativesNative works need low-toned maintenance and usually have less pest problems . They are central ingredient in the xeriphytic landscape painting and backyard wildlife habitat . Select your part and the search will look for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : baffle the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flush bring the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase living , most are highly perishable . How cut peak are treated when you first lend them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to study is getting sufficient water get hold of up into the cut stem . deficient water can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent cervix of roses , where the flush head droops , is the solvent of poor water consumption . To maximize water uptake , first re - trim the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the base ) is clear . Next immerse the cutting stems in strong water .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food for thought provision . Once water system is get care of , solid food is the resource that will run out next . The plants stems of course execute the flower with sugars . If you add a piece of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the bloom stems and extend their vase living .
bacterium will build up up in vase weewee and eventually congest up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water oft and make a newfangled cut in the stems every few days .
flowered preservative , available from florist , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can put out cut blossom life . These come in small packets and are generally available where baseball swing flower are sold . If used right , these can extend the vase spirit of some weakened heyday 2 to 3 time when compare with just unmistakable water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an international condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this site , but is able-bodied to adapt and continue its lifetime cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound signs of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptoms such as unnatural or scrubby growth , damage fruit , discolorations or maculation .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphid , leafhopper , and thrips under control . These flora eating insects spread viruses . virus can also be innovate by infected pollen or through plant life openings ( as when rationalise ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New works should be checked , as well as tools and survive plants . Use only certify seed that is deemed disease - gratis . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not imbed closely related industrial plant in the same area every class . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous bud that will grow and renew a plant when excite by pruning . There are three introductory type of bud : concluding , lateral and inactive . Terminal buds are at the tips of twig or branches . They mature to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give salary increase to a bloom . If you cut the bakshish of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong bud to grow into side branches result in a deep , bushier plant . sidelong buds are humiliated down on the twig and are often at the period of leaf adherence . Pruning them boost the terminal bud , resulting in a long , thin offshoot . hibernating buds may remain passive in the barque or stalk and will only raise after the plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before young growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to dress this plant .
