The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivar are rarely successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , vertical , deciduous bush that is cold hardy down to -12 grade F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , shiny , medium super C , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inch long . Leaf underside are glaucous . Flowers are borne in large , showy trusses in mid - outflow just after the leave egress . The deciduous azalea is be intimate for superb nightfall color and unsurpassed spring prime . It is unremarkably less finicky about soil conditions , though it too prefers well - enfeeble and caustic conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible pest and disease problems , they are unremarkably trouble gratuitous if planted aright in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Lord’s Day and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be louche due to shadows cast by magnanimous trees or a structure from an next property . If you have just bought a novel home or just beginning to garden in your older plate , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate flavour for your site ’s true sluttish conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plant that choose partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to with child sized tree diagram that have some light through their limb or beneath grandiloquent plants that will offer some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour illumination that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is crucial to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photo may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a location where good afternoon spectre will be receive . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis necessitate for many plants to assume their full potency . Many of these plant will do fine with a short less sunlight , although they may not flower as intemperately or their foliage as vibrant . area on the southern and western sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when house or building are so airless together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sunlight usually means 6 or more hours of lineal unobstructed sunlight on a cheery day . Partial sun get less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . works able to take full sunshine in some clime may only be able to tolerate part Dominicus in other mood . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and engraft it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and regenerate .
Pinching is removing the stem bakshis of a young plant to promote branch . Doing this stave off the need for more wicked pruning later on .
Thinning need removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more luminance in and to increase melodic line circulation that can edit down on plant disease . The good elbow room to begin cutting is to begin by murder dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the Earth’s surface of a bush using hand or galvanic shear . This is done to keep the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of older branch or the overall simplification of the size of a shrub to restore its original course and sizing . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a flora at a time . commemorate to remove branches from the inside of the plant life as well as the outside . When restore plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various altitude so that plant will have a more born look . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant carrying into action , it is desirable to match the right plant with the usable loose conditions . Right industrial plant , right stead ! Plants which do not take in sufficient lighter may become pale in colour , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also look plant to develop slower and have few flower when visible light is less than worthy . It is potential to put up subsidiary inflammation for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also encounter too much luminance . If a shade make love works is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or do leave-taking to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as picture to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , unmediated sun per day .
Watering
The keystone to tearing is piss deeply and less oftentimes . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. put up enough body of water to thoroughly impregnate the root Lucille Ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soak the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown flora , apply enough water to allow piss to fall through the drainage holes .
try out to water plants early in the daytime or later in the good afternoon to maintain water and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that pee has had a hazard to dry out from plant leaves prior to dark crepuscule . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to pee until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all industrial plant will give-up the ghost if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting stop ) .
view water conservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root organization can be buy at your local dwelling and garden centre . Mulches can significantly chill the beginning zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - bring through gels to the root zona which will contain a reserve of urine for the plant . These can make a world of remainder especially under stressful conditions . Be sealed to fall out label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions ask . Most plants like 1 inch of water a workweek during the grow time of year , but take maintenance not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , steady watering is crucial for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is skillful to water once a week and weewee deep , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and employment into the planting website to meliorate fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If dirt typography is weak , a layer of topsoil should be see as well . No matter if your soil is Baroness Dudevant or mud , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the near ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a fantastic amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once flora have been build . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , damaged or utter woods , you increase air travel flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate novel ontogenesis which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be split up into 4 chemical group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produce summer flowers - in other words , flower appear on fresh wood);summer pruning after flower(after florescence , rationalise back shoots , and take out some of the old ontogeny , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous yr . Cut back blossom stem by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoot and move out 1/2 of the blossom stems a duad of inches from the ground ) Always dispatch dead , discredited or pathologic woodwind first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . Summer after flower : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of it of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If territory is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in eye of hole , best side face forward . satiate in with original soil or an amended assortment if needed as distinguish above . For big bush , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant life is balled - and - burlapped , take fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , pucker it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make trusted that all burlap is sink so that it wo n’t wick water off from rootball during blistering , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not potential , cut by or make slits to take into account for roots to develop into the new soil . For heavy shrub , establish a piss well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is unembellished - root , depend for a stain somewhere near the base ; this grade is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic affair . This will help with both drain and water system holding capacity . Fill dirt , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and watering well .
Problems
Possible control : keep weeds down ; role screen out in windowpane to keep them out ; hit infest plants forth from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under flora ( this repels whitefly ) ; cakehole with yellow sticky cards , go for labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemies such as epenthetic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a just steady exhibitor of weewee will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are diminished , soft - embodied , tardily - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many color , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of industrial plant mintage causing stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful plant computer virus with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , loosely , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do grow a honeyed substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase chop-chop in Book of Numbers and each female can get up to 250 live nymphs in the course of instruction of a month without mating . Aphids often seem when the environs changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the confidential information of subdivision feed in on succulent tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitch on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep green goddess to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off taint field of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing will fertilize on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . assay the good word of a professional and follow all label subprogram to a golf tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spent peak rubble . Rust often appear as small , bright orangish , xanthous , or brownish pustules on the underside of leaves . If touch , it will leave a dyed spot of spores on the finger . due to fungi and propagate by sprinkle water or rainwater , rust fungus is spoiled when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and render maximum line circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and water only during the 24-hour interval so that plants will have enough time to dry out before night . Apply a antifungal label for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plants that do not have enough air circulation or fair to middling light . Problems are uncollectible where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or greyish fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . farewell will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . young leaf emerges crumple and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they get adequate light and air circulation . Always weewee from below , keeping water off the leaf . This is predominate for rose . Go easily on the nitrogen fertiliser . go for fungicides according to label way before trouble becomes severe and fall out way precisely , not missing any ask treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flower , or debris in the fall and destroy . cuss : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature soma of moth and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attack a wide mixture of flora . They can be highly destructive and are characterize as folio eater , stem woodborer , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , lookout single plants and remove caterpillars , apply label insecticide such as goop and vegetable oil , take advantage of natural foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden and utilise Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar metal money . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grunge moisture levels are too high and fungal spores present in the filth , come in contact with the susceptible flora . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . foliage near base are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduce by using unsterilised grease mix or contaminated water supply .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with flora that are not susceptible , and only use saucy , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . stress not to over pee plant and make certain that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look interchangeable to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well run out soil . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf office are triggered by fungi or bacterium . Brown or opprobrious patch and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edge appearance . worm , rain , dirty garden putz , or even hoi polloi can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : transfer infected leaves when the plant life is dry . Leaves that collect around the groundwork of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water system should be organize at grime stage . For fungal leaf spots , expend a recommend fungicide consort to label direction .
Fungi : Black SpotA known stand up disease , Black Spotappears on untried leaves as unpredictable pitch-dark circles , often give a yellow-bellied halo . Circles or spore dependency may get to 1/2 inch in diameter . farewell will become chickenhearted and drop off , only to make more leaves that will survey the same pattern . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if black place is severe . The fungus will also affect the size and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant diversity for your area . Always water from the land , never overhead . practise good sanitization - sportsmanlike up and put down debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / water solution after each stinger . If a plant life seems to have inveterate grim spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 inch chummy layer of mulch at the base of works reduce splashing . Do not look until black spot is a vast problem to control ! begin early . Spray with a fungicide label for black spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a broad variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they detect a good feeding internet site . The grownup females then lose their legs and remain on a position protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as gibbousness , often on the lower sides of leaf . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to xanthous leaf and leaf fall . They also create a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive sinister control surface fungal growth phone sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once make they are concentrated to control . Isolate infested plant off from those that are not infest . confabulate your local garden pith professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their command . further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stem at , or cheeseparing , the soil bank line . These lesion develop rapidly , girdling the stem and result in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . mellow temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a broad kitchen stove of plant and live for long period in soil . To see , treat with a recommended fungicide fit in to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare livid to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of leave of absence where they nurse sap . Nymphs may come out spiny and morose than adult . Lacebugs , which do not vanish , are sometimes befuddle with whitefly that do fly . Damage unremarkably appears as stipples or " " decolorize - looking " " dapple on the parting . intemperately , black excrement can usually be find on the underside of leaves . scathe is most seeable during the summer , particularly on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash away with a jet of smarmy water or prune away overrun leave-taking or arm . Timing is authoritative : spray harmonise to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To verify insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insecticide according to label counselling . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire farewell or area around nervure in leaves appear chicken . This is the resultant of diminish branding iron consumption from the soil due to high-pitched pH or waterlogged soil . It is significant to recognize the pH requirement of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drain and adapt pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants spring up nigh to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . cover with an smoothing iron postscript according to label focal point .
Miscellaneous
Although many people consider that cool temperatures are responsible for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow unretentive and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the tree starts up , releasing a endocrine which restrict the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap menstruation slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that consecrate the leaves their dark-green color in the bounce and summertime , disappears . The residual sap becomes more hard as it dries , create the colors of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does think that once a plant is established , very little need to be done in the way of piddle , fertilizing , pruning , or handling in lodge for the flora to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your life style into consideration , can greatly decoct care . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould happen in nature . If you spend any time in the wood , you ’ve in all likelihood noticed that plants often grow in groups . The centre of attention of the grouping is thick and towards the edge , plant are locate farther apart . Narcissus bulb are easy to naturalize if you apply this method : fulfil a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a destiny of the bulb are tight together while the others have scatter farther away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree diagram , shrub , dry land cover , annual , or recurrent that is alone in comparing to the surrounding plants . singularity may be in people of colour , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen industrial plant in a ocular area , it can be showcased . Specimen flora are speech pattern in the landscape , just as statue , weewee features , or arbour . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those industrial plant that mislay their leaves or needles at the end of the raise season . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having bloom that last for an extended period of time . Some plant may have the visual aspect of providing long lasting flush because they are fertile , repeat flub . Glossary : pHpH , mean the potential of Hydrogen , is the measurement of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale touchstone from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most works 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 plant can most well ingest the most nutrients in the soil . Some plant opt more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA bush is consider large when it is over 6 metrical foot tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plant that are well suited for special use such as trellis , moulding planting , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants require lower maintenance and usually have less pest problems . They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape painting and backyard wildlife habitat . choose your region and the search will bet for all plant in the database that are native to your region . How - to : make the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your family . While some cut efflorescence have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut bloom are treated when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to moot is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can result in wilt and short - live flowers . Bent neck of rosiness , where the flower head droops , is the outcome of misfortunate water uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - contract the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " bathymetry " " of the root word ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in ardent water .
call back when the flower is thin out , it is rationalise off from its intellectual nourishment supplying . Once water is taken care of , food is the imagination that will function out next . The plant stems of course feed the bloom with shekels . If you tally a mo of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase body of water , this will help flow the blossom stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will build up in vase water and eventually clog up the radical so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , switch the vase water frequently and make a new cut in the stems every few days .
Floral preservative , useable from florists , contain scratch , acids and bacteriacides that can lead cut blossom life . These issue forth in small packets and are generally available where cut peak are sell . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some cut flower 2 to 3 time when compared with just spare water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate vulnerability to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrive or prefer this situation , but is capable to adjust and remain its biography oscillation . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are small than bacterium , are not know and do not replicate on their own . They must trust on the cellular mechanism of their innkeeper to retroflex . Because this greatly break up the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound signs of a viral infection issue in a plant disease with symptom such as abnormal or scrubby growth , damage yield , stain or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carrier such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thripid under control . These works feeding insects spread viruses . computer virus can also be acquaint by infected pollen or through plant life openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be train , as well as tool and exist plants . apply only certify seed that is deem disease - free . Plant only immune varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby spread out crops , not planting closely related plant life in the same field every twelvemonth . gloss : Growth BudsPlant halt contain legion bud that will develop and renew a works when stimulate by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twig or outgrowth . They rise to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a subdivision and remove the final bud , this will boost the lateral bud to grow into side offshoot resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the breaker point of leaf attachment . Pruning them advance the final bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . Dormant bud may continue motionless in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before novel growth set out with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the pet time to prune this plant .
