The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly 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 splendid choice for a West Coast garden . marvellous , upright , deciduous bush that is cold hardy down to -12 stage F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glossy , medium common , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 in long . Leaf undersurface are glaucous . Flowers are accept in enceinte , showy truss in mid - outflow just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb evenfall colour and unsurpassed springtime flowers . It is ordinarily less picky about soil condition , though it too prefers well - drained and sulphurous conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially big list of potential pest and disease problems , they are ordinarily problem liberal if plant aright in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will point out that sun and shade patterns deepen during the mean solar day . The western side of a mansion may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an next property . If you have just corrupt a new home or just beginning to garden in your old home , take time to map sunlight and subtlety throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s lawful light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many industrial plant that favor partly shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . ripe planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their arm or beneath improbable flora that will ply some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer luminance that is filtered . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is of import to them . Often cockcrow sunshine , because it is not as stiff as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an expanse that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plant to strike their full potential . Many of these plants will do very well with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their leaf as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and western slope of buildings commonly are the sunny . The only exclusion is when houses or buildings are so close together , apparition are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually entail 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay 24-hour interval . Partial sun receive less than 6 hours of sunshine , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . live the finish of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and restore .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this nullify the need for more life-threatening pruning after on .
cutting involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the inside of a works to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can abridge down on industrial plant disease . The best way to begin thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the control surface of a shrub using hired hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedgerow or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of old branches or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original shape and size of it . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clock time . recall to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , thin out back canes at various summit so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying into action , it is suitable to pair the right plant with the available light conditions . Right flora , correct office ! Plants which do not receive sufficient Inner Light may become pale in color , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have few blooms when light is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamps . plant can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is display to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaf to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sun per sidereal day .
Watering
The headstone to watering is water deep and less oft . When tearing , body of water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the ancestor chunk . With in - ground plant , this means soundly soaking the soil until piddle has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow pee to flow through the drainage holes .
attempt to water industrial plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve urine and cut down on flora stress . Do piddle early enough so that water supply has had a hazard to dry out from works leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to pee until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point in time ) .
Consider pee conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture straight off on the beginning system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding weewee - economize gels to the radical geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to follow label instruction for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plant life like 1 in of H2O a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is set up , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is just to water once a workweek and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , tot 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil authorship is debile , a level of topsoil should be regard as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be meliorate by add together the same thing : constitutional matter . The more , the better ; cultivate late into the stain . train bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done by and by , once plant life have been build . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous anthesis shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By move out old , damaged or dead wood , you increase breeze flow , give in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate novel growth which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only bushed , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , Modern growing which grow summer flowers - in other words , flowers appear on unexampled wood);summer dress after flower(after anthesis , contract back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering drug abuse pruning(flowers come along on wood from old year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to potent growing new shoots and take away 1/2 of the flowered stems a span of inch from the priming ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
good example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springtime : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime 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 the etymon ball and recondite enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is pitiful , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of hole , unspoilt side facing forward . Fill in with original stain or an meliorate mixture if needed as describe above . For larger shrubs , make a weewee well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and shut down back the top of innate burlap , pucker it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick urine forth from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , cut down away or make slits to allow for roots to grow into the new soil . For big shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is potential where the soil line was . If grunge is too sandlike or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drain and body of water retention capacity . Fill soil , tauten just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
potential control : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant life ; employ a reflective mulch ( Al enhancer ) under industrial plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky card , go for tag pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfaltering shower of body of water will launder them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , indulgent - incarnate , slow - moving worm that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from green to brown to inglorious , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of flora species causing acrobatics , distort leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant life computer virus with their piercing / fellate mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are but a nuisance , since it film many of them to get serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance bid honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 unrecorded nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - outpouring & fall . They ’re often massed at the pourboire of branches feed on lush tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the colour yellowness and will often hitchhike on icteric clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around worthy plants . On eatable , wash off infected area of flora . Lady bug and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various Cartesian product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and stick with all recording label procedure to a tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and pass blossom debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger . due to fungi and spread by splashing urine or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and ply maximal airwave circulation . cleanse up all debris , especially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from operating expense and weewee only during the 24-hour interval so that industrial plant will have enough time to dry before nighttime . practice a fungicide pronounce for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air travel circulation or adequate lighter . Problems are bad where nights are nerveless and years are warm and humid . The powdery lily-white or gray-haired fungus is normally found on the upper surface of farewell or fruit . foliage will often turn yellow or brown , coil up , and drop off . New foliage come out crinkled and misrepresented . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early on .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant salmagundi and space plants right so they receive enough light and tune circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply antimycotic according to label directions before problem becomes stark and follow directions exactly , not missing any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and absent all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and demolish . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripened form of moth and butterfly . They are ravening birdfeeder attacking a wide variety of flora . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeder , stem stone drill , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentry single plant and remove cat , apply labeled insect powder such as soaps and oils , take reward of innate foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar coinage . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively mellow and fungous spore present in the soil , come in tangency with the susceptible flora . The nucleotide of stems discolor and shrivel up , and leaves further up the stalk wilt disease and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will bend black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduce by using unsterilised grunge mixing or pollute water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant and their antecedent , and discard surrounding soil . put back with plants that are not susceptible , and only use unused , desex grunge commixture . Hold back on fertilizing too . taste not to over piddle plant and ensure that ground is well drained prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom appear similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well enfeeble soils . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf point are triggered by fungi or bacteria . chocolate-brown or black spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water system soaked or yellow - edged appearance . louse , rain , dirty garden tools , or even the great unwashed can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be rake up and dispose of . keep off overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be take at soil level . For fungous leaf smirch , use a recommended fungicide harmonize to label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA know rose disease , Black Spotappears on new folio as unorthodox black circles , often have a yellow gloriole . rophy or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 inch in diam . leave will turn yellow and neglect off , only to give rise more leaves that will follow the same pattern . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if black smirch is severe . The fungus will also affect the sizing and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant varieties for your area . Always water from the ground , never overhead . drill good sanitization - clean up and destroy debris , peculiarly around plant that have had a problem . When trim rose , even deadheading , dip pruner in a bleach / water solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black smudge , withdraw it . A 2 - 3 inch loggerheaded stratum of mulch at the basis of flora reduces splashing . Do not wait until inglorious spot is a huge trouble to see ! take off ahead of time . Spray with a fungicide label for black fleck on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide form of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they discover a skilful feeding internet site . The adult females then lose their legs and continue on a speckle protected by its hard cuticle layer . They seem as bump , often on the lower side of leaf . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant life lead to yellow-bellied foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweetened content called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive contraband Earth’s surface fungous emergence called jet cast .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to check . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden gist professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their ascendance . Encourage natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesions on the prow at , or near , the soil product line . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and lasting wilt of the plant life . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) privilege the disease . The fungus attack a wide range of plants and survives for long periods in soil . To control , handle with a recommended fungicide according to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in build with have lacy flank and unremarkably get hold on the bottom of leaves where they go down on sap . Nymphs may seem spiny and dark than grownup . Lacebugs , which do not flee , are sometimes flurry with whitefly that do fly . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " bleached - look " " smirch on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can usually be find on the undersurface of leaves . harm is most seeable during the summer , particularly on trees . Flowering shrub , though alive , come out frail and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a cat valium of soapy water or prune away infested leave or limb . Timing is significant : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insect , spray underside of leaves with a commend insect powder according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire farewell or area around veins in leaves appear yellow . This is the resultant role of decreased iron ingestion from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is of import to know the pH necessity of plant . Prior to planting , amend grunge to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is uncouth in plants growing close to concrete or plant in alkaline soils . Treat with an Fe appurtenance according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that coolheaded temperatures are responsible for for the colouration change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow short and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the Tree starts up , relinquish a hormone which curb the flow of sap to each folio . As fall progresses , the sap flow slow up and chlorophyll , the chemical that give the leafage their unripened color in the springtime and summertime , vanish . The residuary sap becomes more concentrated as it dry , creating the colors of crepuscule . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is established , very little motive to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or intervention in guild for the plant to rest healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which lease your life style into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random design , much as itwould fall out in nature . If you pass any metre in the woods , you ’ve belike noticed that plants often grow in group . The center of the group is dumb and towards the edge , plants are located farther aside . Narcissus bulb are prosperous to naturalize if you use this method : fill a pail with lightbulb and toss them out . engraft them where they pass . You will note a dowery of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , soil cover , annual , or repeated that is unequaled in equivalence to the fence plants . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a optic surface area , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are accent in the landscape painting , just as statue , piddle features , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that suffer their leaves or needles at the end of the grow time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an drawn-out period of time . Some plant may have the appearing of providing long hold up peak because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . gloss : pHpH , mean the potential of Hydrogen , is the cadence of alkalinity or acidulousness . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale of measurement measuring rod from 0 , most blistering , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acerbic ambit , but there are wad of other plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the flora can most easily absorb the most nutrient in the stain . Some plant prefer more or less of sure nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : declamatory ShrubA shrub is considered large when it is over 6 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to pinpoint plants that are well suited for fussy uses such as treillage , border planting , or origination . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants require downcast upkeep and usually have less pest job . They are cardinal components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . take your region and the search will see for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home . While some weakened bloom have a tenacious vase living , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treat when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most significant thing to view is get down sufficient water take in up into the track shank . Insufficient water can result in wilting and short - live on bloom . out to neck opening of roses , where the flower head droops , is the result of piteous water uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - trend the stem at an slant so that the vascular scheme ( the " " plumbery " " of the root ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm urine .
think when the blossom is burn , it is cut off from its food supply . Once H2O is select aid of , intellectual nourishment is the resource that will lead out next . The plants stems of course feed the flowers with sugars . If you add a bit of clams ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase urine , this will help feed the peak stems and stretch their vase aliveness .
bacterium will ramp up up in vase pee and finally clog up the stem so the flower can not take up piddle . To keep this , alter the vase water frequently and make a new cut in the stems every few day .
Floral preservatives , usable from florists , contain lolly , acids and bacteriacide that can extend contract bloom life . These add up in small bundle and are generally usable where slash flowers are betray . If used decent , these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 time when compared with just sheer pee in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to permit photo to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant expand or choose this situation , but is able-bodied to adjust and continue its life cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not living and do not reduplicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly interrupt the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound sign of the zodiac of a viral infection resultant role in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted growth , damaged yield , discolorations or daub .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrips under ascendance . These industrial plant feeding insects spread viruses . computer virus can also be introduced by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . start bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plant should be hold in , as well as tools and existing plants . utilize only certify seed that is deem disease - detached . works only tolerant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not planting closely related works in the same region every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the confidential information of twigs or branches . They grow to make the outgrowth or twig longer . In some instance they may give rise to a flush . If you veer the baksheesh of a leg and remove the final bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches leave in a thicker , bushier works . sidelong bud are low down on the twig and are often at the point of folio attachment . Pruning them encourage the last bud , result in a longsighted , flimsy branch . Dormant bud may stay on inactive in the barque or bow and will only arise after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begin with a accomplished fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the favorite meter to prune this plant .
