The Occidentale Hybrids are the product primarily of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea aboriginal to the Pacific Coast . This specie and its cultivars are seldom successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an splendid choice for a West Coast garden . grandiloquent , just , deciduous bush that is moth-eaten hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are oval to oblong , glossy , medium Green River , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inch long . Leaf undersides are glaucous . Flowers are stick out in large , showy truss in mid - spring just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall color and unexceeded spring bloom . It is usually less picky about dirt condition , though it too prefer well - drained and acid precondition . Though azaleas have a potentially large lean of potential pest and disease trouble , they are unremarkably hassle free if plant aright in proper ethnic stipulation .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shadowiness patterns change during the mean solar day . The western side of a household may even be shady due to shadows cast by large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a bodily structure from an side by side dimension . If you have just bought a new home or just set about to garden in your older home , take meter to map sun and refinement throughout the day . You will get a more accurate flavour for your site ’s true light status . shape : Filtered LightFor many plant that favor partly shadowy conditions , trickle lightis paragon . Good planting internet site are under a mid to prominent sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some light through their branches or beneath marvellous works that will render some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt brightness that is trickle . Sunlight , though not lineal , is authoritative to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as inviolable as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part subtlety . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a locating where good afternoon refinement will be get . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plant to assume their full potential . Many of these plant will do fine with a little less sun , although they may not bloom as hard or their foliage as vibrant . area on the southerly and western side of edifice usually are the sunniest . The only elision is when business firm or buildings are so close together , shadows are contrive from neighboring properties . Full sunlight usually stand for 6 or more hr of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a gay day . Partial sun have less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 60 minutes . flora capable to take full sun in some mood may only be able to allow part sun in other climates . Know the culture of the flora before you buy and embed it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem lead of a untested plant life to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning after on .
Thinning necessitate removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to unfold up the interior of a flora to let more Inner Light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The in force way to begin cutting is to begin by remove stagnant or morbid wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to uphold the desired form of a hedgerow or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of old branches or the overall simplification of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to take out branches from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor sound plant carrying into action , it is worthy to meet the correct plant life with the useable lightsome conditions . Right industrial plant , right seat ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become wan in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow tedious and have few blooms when sparkle is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental firing for indoor plant life with lamps . Plants can also meet too much light . If a specter loving plant is exposed to unmediated sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis delimit as photograph to more than 6 minute of uninterrupted , direct sun per daylight .
Watering
The key to tearing is water supply deeply and less ofttimes . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. cater enough water to thoroughly saturate the root musket ball . With in - land plants , this means soundly soaking the soil until water has get across to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being unspoilt ) . With container grown industrial plant , apply enough water system to permit weewee to menstruate through the drain holes .
stress to irrigate plants too soon in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or afterwards in the afternoon to keep up piss and cut down on plant life strain . Do water betimes enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant farewell prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t hold back to H2O until works wilt . Although some works will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip mould irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system of rules which slow drip wet directly on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the stem zone and economize wet .
regard adding water - saving gels to the root word zone which will defend a reserve of pee for the plant . These can make a existence of dispute especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their role .
atmospheric condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be save evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water system a week during the produce season , but take upkeep not to over water . The first two class after a plant is instal , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and water deep , than to water frequently for a few instant .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase water retentivity and drainage . If soil composition is frail , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Henry Clay , it can be amend by add the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the better ; work out deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly devote off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plant have been base . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By remove old , damaged or dead Ellen Price Wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You regenerate new development which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divide into 4 grouping : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , young growth which produces summer flowers - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , geld back shoots , and take out some of the sometime growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on Grant Wood from previous class . Cut back flowered radical by 1/2 , to strong growing novel shoots and dispatch 1/2 of the flower stem a duet of column inch from the earth ) Always withdraw dead , 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 . leap : 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 root ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If stain is miserable , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original filth and half compost or grease amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and softly separate tooth root . Position in center of hole , best side face forward . Fill in with original soil or an remediate mixture if needed as described above . For gravid shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the flora is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural gunny , tuck it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , teetotal period . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not possible , reduce away or make slit to permit for etymon to develop into the new filth . For great shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If shrub is mere - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is potential where the land line was . If stain is too sandy or too clayey , add up organic matter . This will help with both drain and urine retention capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and water well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; manipulation screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminium enhancer ) under works ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky menu , implement labeled pesticides ; encourage rude enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good unwavering shower of body of water will wash them off the flora . Pest : AphidsAphids are modest , soft - incarnate , tardily - travel insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many people of color , ranging from green to John Brown to fateful , and they may have wings . They assault a wide range of plant species causing stunting , distort foliage and buds . They can air harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant life damage . However aphid do produce a sweet core called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting pitch-black surface development promise sooty mould .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 alive nymph in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the pourboire of offset course on succulent tissue . aphid are pull in to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep Mary Jane to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On victual , moisten off infect region of works . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to ensure aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaf , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as little , bright orangish , scandalmongering , or dark-brown pustules on the underside of leaf . If touched , it will leave a dark office of spore on the finger . due to kingdom Fungi and spread by plash body of water or rain , rust fungus is bad when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant variety and provide maximum air circulation . strip up all debris , particularly around plants that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from budget items and water only during the mean solar day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before night . Apply a antimycotic labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on works that do not have enough air circulation or equal light . problem are worse where nights are nerveless and days are strong and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is ordinarily found on the upper open of leaf or fruit . leaf will often sour white-livered or chocolate-brown , curl up , and drop off . fresh foliage emerges crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often neglect early .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant kind and space plant decently so they receive adequate luminosity and air circulation . Always water from below , observe water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easily on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply antifungal agent according to label directions before problem becomes severe and take after directions exactly , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destroy . pesterer : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green signifier of moths and butterfly . They are rapacious affluent assail a wide variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leafage feeders , stem borers , leafage crimper , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep green goddess down , scout individual plants and remove caterpillar , apply labeled insect powder such as Georgia home boy and oil , take vantage of natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture level are to a fault high and fungal spore present in the ground , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The root word of staunch discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . leave-taking near base are regard first . The roots will grow opprobrious and rot or break . This fungi can be inaugurate by using unsterilized dirt admixture or contaminate piss .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their ascendent , and discard surrounding stain . interchange with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilise too . Try not to over water plants and ensure that soil is well drained prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained land . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf smear are due to fungi or bacterium . chocolate-brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tool , or even the great unwashed can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leave when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the root of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at filth grade . For fungal leaf spots , habituate a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
fungus kingdom : Black SpotA known rise disease , Black Spotappears on young leafage as irregular dark circles , often have a yellow halo . roach or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . leaf will turn yellowed and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will espouse the same pattern . Roses may not make it through the winter if contraband spot is severe . The fungus will also affect the size of it and calibre of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant diversity for your area . Always weewee from the reason , never overhead . Practice proficient sanitation - clean up and destroy detritus , peculiarly around plant that have had a trouble . When pruning blush wine , even deadheading , magnetic inclination pruners in a bleach / water solvent after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 in boneheaded layer of mulch at the groundwork of plant deoxidize splashing . Do not wait until black spot is a huge problem to hold in ! part early . Spray with a antifungal agent mark for black place on rosiness . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , have-to doe with to mealy hemipteron , that can be a problem on a all-embracing variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale Australian crawl until they find a good eating internet site . The adult female person then suffer their legs and remain on a spot protected by its heavy shell layer . They appear as protuberance , often on the blue side of leave . They have piercing back talk parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can counteract a plant leading to scandalmongering leafage and folio pearl . They also create a scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting dark Earth’s surface fungous growth call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are severe to hold . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden midpoint professional or Cooperative Extension situation in your county for a legal good word regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the shank at , or nigh , the soil line . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the fore and result in a sudden and lasting wilt of the plant life . High temperatures ( above 85 degree F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus assault a broad reach of plants and survives for longsighted periods in stain . To control , treat with a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare snowy to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in physique with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . nymph may appear setaceous and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fell , are sometimes throw with whiteflies that do pilot . harm usually seem as stipples or " " decolor - reckon " " spots on the leave . severely , smuggled excretory product can usually be found on the undersurface of leave . terms is most visible during the summer , specially on trees . Flowering bush , though active , appear infirm and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash away with a jet-propelled plane of saponaceous water or prune away invade leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a urge insect powder according to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaf or area around veins in leave-taking appear jaundiced . This is the answer of minify iron uptake from the dirt due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is authoritative to know the pH demand of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in industrial plant develop close to concrete or institute in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron supplement according to label direction .
Miscellaneous
Although many masses trust that cool temperatures are creditworthy for the color modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the day grow shorter and the night longer , a chemical clock inside the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree starts up , unblock a internal secretion which restrict the flow of sap to each leaf . As declivity progresses , the sap flowing slow down and chlorophyl , the chemical that give the leave of absence their green color in the fountain and summer , evaporate . The residual sap becomes more hard as it dries , creating the colors of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant life is established , very little needs to be done in the way of water supply , fertilizing , pruning , or discussion in order of magnitude for the works to rest sound and attractive . A well - design garden , which convey your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to implant in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any metre in the woods , you ’ve probably noticed that plants often mature in groups . The mall of the group is dense and towards the edges , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus light bulb are prosperous to naturalize if you employ this method acting : fill a bucket with bulb and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will remark a portion of the bulbs are skinny together while the others have scatter far out . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or perennial that is unique in equivalence to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in semblance , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen works in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape , just as statue , water features , or arbor . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that turn a loss their leaves or needles at the end of the growing time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an extended period of meter . Some flora may have the appearance of supply prospicient hold out flowers because they are prolific , repetition bungle . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measuring of alkalinity or sourness . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of stain . The scale amount from 0 , most virulent , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant choose a stove between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are batch of other plants 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 ground . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do well at a certain pH.Glossary : great ShrubA shrub is considered enceinte when it is over 6 feet marvellous . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plants that are best suit for particular uses such as trellises , margin plantings , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants require low maintenance and usually have less pestilence problem . They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape painting and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your realm and the search will look for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home . While some cut flower have a long vase biography , most are highly perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important matter to view is getting sufficient urine taken up into the cut stem . deficient water can result in wilting and unawares - experience heyday . Bent neck of roses , where the flower mind droops , is the result of poor urine intake . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular scheme ( the " " plumbing " " of the radical ) is clear . Next immerse the track halt in ardent water supply .
Remember when the peak is cut , it is cut off from its nutrient supply . Once weewee is taken care of , food is the imagination that will run out next . The plant stem naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help bung the flush stem and offer their vase aliveness .
bacterium will work up up in vase H2O and eventually overload up the stem so the flower can not take up body of water . To prevent this , change the vase water system frequently and make a new cut in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florist , contain carbohydrate , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut flush life . These come in little packets and are generally available where cut heyday are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase animation of some cut prime 2 to 3 times when compared with just spare water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant relate to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrive or prefer this situation , but is able-bodied to adapt and continue its life cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not live and do not replicate on their own . They must trust on the cellular mechanism of their hosts to repeat . Because this greatly disrupts the electric cell ’s functionality , outward signboard of a viral infection termination in a plant disease with symptoms such as unnatural or stunted growth , damage fruit , discoloration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thrips under control . These plant eating insect spread viruses . Viruses can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . unexampled plants should be check over , as well as tool and exist plants . apply only licence seed that is view as disease - liberal . Plant only resistive varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby turn out crop , not plant closely tie in plants in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stanch contain legion buds that will mature and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : terminal , lateral and sleeping . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the offshoot or twig longer . In some cases they may give cost increase to a flower . If you cut the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral bud to raise into side branch lead in a thicker , shaggy plant . sidelong buds are lower down on the sprig and are often at the spot of foliage bond . Pruning them further the terminal bud , leave in a long , thin branch . Dormant buds may continue inactive in the barque or root word and will only grow after the plant is issue back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before raw emergence begin with a accomplished fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .
