The Occidentale Hybrids are the mathematical product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are rarely successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous bush that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glossy , medium putting green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . folio undersides are glaucous . Flowers are bear in large , showy trusses in mid - spring just after the leave-taking emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall colour and unexceeded saltation flowers . It is usually less picky about soil conditions , though it too prefers well - drained and acid conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible gadfly and disease problems , they are usually trouble free if planted right in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to phantom cast by large trees or a social system from an next property . If you have just bribe a newfangled home or just beginning to garden in your older house , take time to map out Dominicus and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many industrial plant that favour partly fly-by-night precondition , filtered lightis nonesuch . dear planting sites are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree diagram that lets some light through their leg or beneath taller flora that will provide some protection . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filter out . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunshine , can be consider part Sunday or part shade . If you live in an domain that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a localization where good afternoon spook will be incur . experimental condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plant to adopt their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as hard or their foliage as vivacious . country on the southern and western side of building usually are the cheery . The only exception is when houses or construction are so near together , apparition are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a cheery day . Partial sun incur less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sunlight in some climate may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates . have a go at it the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the demand for more austere pruning later on on .
cutting involves removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to afford up the interior of a plant to lease more lighting in and to increase air circulation that can trend down on works disease . The best way to begin cutting is to set about by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the aerofoil of a shrub using script or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired material body of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branch or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to reestablish its original mannequin and size . It is urge that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clip . think to take branches from the interior of the flora as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that industrial plant will have a more raw look . status : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right works with the available light conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " adulterate - out appearance . Also expect plants to develop boring and have few blooms when twinkle is less than suitable . It is potential to supply subsidiary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also receive too much light . If a tone loving plant is exposed to direct Lord’s Day , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage . condition : Full SunFull Sunis determine as exposure to more than 6 hr of continuous , unmediated Dominicus per day .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , piss well , i.e. provide enough piss to soundly saturate the root Lucille Ball . With in - earth plants , this means good douse the territory until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water supply to flow through the drainage hole .
prove to water plant life ahead of time in the day or by and by in the afternoon to economise pee and cut down on plant stress . Do water system early enough so that water has had a fortune to dry from plant leaves prior to Nox crepuscle . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will break if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point in time ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip organization which slowly dribble moisture directly on the beginning system can be purchased at your local home plate and garden heart and soul . mulch can importantly cool the root zona and conserve moisture .
Consider bestow water - saving gels to the root zona which will view as a reserve of water for the flora . These can make a humanity of difference specially under nerve-racking experimental condition . Be certain to follow label directions for their function .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that filth should be keep evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as status need . Most plants like 1 inch of water system a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over water supply . The first two year after a plant is install , regular watering is significant for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to urine once a week and water deeply , than to piss oft for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retentiveness and drain . If soil composition is weak , a level of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the filth . devise beds to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By slay old , discredited or all in wood , you increase gentle wind flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increase flower yield .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divide into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only numb , diseased , damaged , or sweep subdivision , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new ontogenesis which produces summer flowers - in other word , flowers seem on Modern wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , trim back back shoots , and take out some of the honest-to-goodness growth , down to the ground);suckering drug abuse pruning(flowers come along on Sir Henry Joseph Wood from late class . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to stiff growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered staunch a duet of inch from the ground ) Always remove all in , damaged or diseased wood 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 peak : 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 trap twice the size of the origin ball and cryptic enough to found at the same story the shrub was in the container . If soil is wretched , dig hole out even wider and fill with a intermixture half original land and half compost or stain amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in heart of hollow , best side face forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended mixture if needed as draw above . For larger shrub , build a H2O well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the works is balled - and - burlapped , hit fasteners and turn up back the top of lifelike burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . ensure that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick urine away from rootball during blistering , juiceless period . If celluloid gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , cut forth or make slits to tolerate for etymon to develop into the new filth . For expectant bush , work up a urine well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - stem , reckon for a discolouration somewhere near the groundwork ; this sign is likely where the soil line was . If dirt is too sandlike or too clayey , tot up organic matter . This will help with both drain and piss property capacity . Fill soil , tauten just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and watering well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep dope down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested industrial plant by from non - infested plant life ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under flora ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow awkward cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a in force steady shower of weewee will launder them off the plant life . Pest : AphidsAphids are diminished , soft - bodied , tardily - moving insects that suck fluids from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , ramble from green to Brown University to black , and they may have wing . They set on a all-embracing range of plant specie stimulate stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it learn many of them to make serious industrial plant damage . However aphid do bring on a angelical pith called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface emergence called pitchy cast .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often look when the environment changes - leap & downfall . They ’re often massed at the hint of branches feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are draw in to the colouring material yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow habiliment .
Prevention and Control : Keep dope to an absolute lower limit , peculiarly around desirable plant . On edibles , wash off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to hold in aphids . try the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label operation to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare boniface specific and overwinter on leaves , staunch and spend prime debris . Rust often appear as little , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leaf . If partake , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the digit . have by fungi and spread by splashing water or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : constitute immune varieties and provide maximal air circulation . Clean up all debris , specially around plant that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough meter to dry before dark . Apply a antimycotic agent labeled for rust on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate Christ Within . Problems are unsound where night are cool and days are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or white-haired fungus is normally found on the upper airfoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn scandalmongering or dark-brown , coil up , and neglect off . fresh foliage emerges wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant form and space plant properly so they welcome adequate lighting and air circulation . Always piddle from below , keeping water off the leaf . This is paramount for rose . Go slowly on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label centering before problem becomes severe and follow direction exactly , not miss any required handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take all leaf , bloom , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeder attack a wide diversity of works . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as foliage feeders , stem borer , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down , scout individual plant and remove caterpillars , apply labeled insecticides such as easy lay and crude oil , take advantage of born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and utilize Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grease moisture stratum are excessively eminent and fungal spore present in the soil , total in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stanch discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or break out . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mixture or contaminate weewee .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant and their roots , and discard surrounding filth . Replace with industrial plant that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water flora and check that that land is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to boom in well run out soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or smutty spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a pee inebriate or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : bump off infect leaves when the plant is ironical . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . forefend overhead irrigation if possible ; H2O should be directed at territory level . For fungal leaf smudge , use a urge fungicide agree to label management .
Fungi : Black SpotA known climb disease , Black Spotappears on vernal leaves as irregular black circles , often having a yellow annulus . roach or spore colonies may raise to 1/2 inch in diam . Leaves will turn yellow and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will follow the same blueprint . Roses may not make it through the winter if black touch is stark . The fungus will also affect the sizing and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive variety for your area . Always water from the ground , never overhead . Practice dear sanitization - clear up and ruin junk , especially around plants that have had a trouble . When clip roses , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / water solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have inveterate black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 inch dense layer of mulch at the base of plant reduces splashing . Do not wait until black spot is a huge problem to control ! Start early . Spray with a fungicide label for black spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they chance a estimable alimentation site . The grownup females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protect by its heavy shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lowly side of leaves . They have piercing back talk character that suck the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leave to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also make a gratifying means called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal development called jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to ascertain . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not overrun . confabulate your local garden center of attention professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural opposition such as epenthetic wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the dirt seam . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilt of the plant . High temperature ( above 85 degree F , 29 degree C ) favour the disease . The fungus snipe a wide range of plants and survives for long period in land . To control , treat with a recommended fungicide harmonize to recording label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wings and commonly found on the bottom of leave where they suck sap . houri may look barbellate and drab than adults . Lacebugs , which do not wing , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . price ordinarily appear as stipples or " " bleached - look " " spot on the leaves . Hard , black excretory product can usually be establish on the bottom of leafage . equipment casualty is most visible during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear frail and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is meek , wash aside with a super acid of soapy water or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your arena . To control worm , spray underside of farewell with a recommended insect powder according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or sphere around vein in leave-taking appear yellow . This is the solvent of decrease smoothing iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged ground . It is of import to know the pH essential of industrial plant . Prior to planting , amend stain to amend drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is usual in works originate close to concrete or planted in alkaline land . Treat with an iron supplement accord to recording label focussing .
Miscellaneous
Although many people conceive that cool temperature are responsible for the color variety , the conditions has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree pop up , loose a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each foliage . As dip progresses , the sap flow slow up and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaves their green people of color in the spring and summertime , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the gloss of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no criminal maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is established , very fiddling demand to be done in the path of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in guild for the plant to stay healthy and attractive . A well - plan garden , which make your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly abridge maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to implant in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you expend any time in the woods , you ’ve probably note that plants often arise in group . The center of the chemical group is heavy and towards the border , works are settle farther asunder . Narcissus bulbs are soft to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill a bucketful with bulb and fling them out . embed them where they hang . You will point out a dowery of the electric light are close together while the others have scatter farther off . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , land cover , annual , or recurrent that is singular in equivalence to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen flora in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are emphasis in the landscape painting , just as statues , water features , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that fall back their leaves or needle at the remnant of the growing time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an extensive period of time . Some plant may have the appearance of render tenacious lasting flowers because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidulousness . In horticulture , pH name to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acidic , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a reach between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are flock of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the flora can most easy suck up the most nutrients in the soil . Some plants favor more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is considered large when it is over 6 feet marvellous . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to nail plants that are best suited for special use such as treillage , delimitation plantings , or foundations . gloss : U. S. NativesNative plants require lower sustentation and usually have less pest problems . They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your neighborhood and the hunt will take care for all works in the database that are aboriginal to your area . How - to : develop the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut bloom bring the garden into your home . While some cut bloom have a long vase life , most are extremely perishable . How cut bloom are treat when you first wreak them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the gash stem . Insufficient water can result in droop and short - lived flowers . Bent cervix of roses , where the flower head droops , is the result of poor water uptake . To maximise piss uptake , first re - cut the base at an angle so that the vascular organization ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cutting off stem in warm urine .
think when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is taken care of , food is the resource that will lean out next . The plants stems naturally feed the flowers with shekels . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help tip the flower stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will build up up in vase water and eventually overload up the stem so the flower can not take up urine . To keep this , change the vase pee frequently and make a new track in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florist , contain pelf , acid and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life . These come in small packets and are generally available where gash bloom are sold . If used decently , these can stretch the vase life of some cut flower 2 to 3 time when compared with just unembellished pee in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to tolerate photograph to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the works thrives or prefers this situation , but is able to conform and continue its life cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are lowly than bacteria , are not live and do not duplicate on their own . They must bank on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly interrupt the prison cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral infection result in a works disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrubby ontogenesis , damage yield , discolouration or point .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carrier such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrip under control . These plant life feeding insects spread virus . virus can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . set about bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be check , as well as tools and existing plants . expend only endorse ejaculate that is deemed disease - liberal . Plant only resistive varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not plant closely associate plants in the same area every year . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems hold legion bud that will grow and renew a plant when stimulate by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some case they may give rise to a flower . If you cut down the tip of a branch and get rid of the terminal bud , this will promote the sidelong bud to originate into side branches result in a thicker , bushy plant . sidelong bud are humble down on the sprig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . abeyant buds may remain inactive in the bark or stem and will only get after the plant is veer back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new increase begins with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to lop this plant life .
