The Occidentale Hybrids are the production chiefly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This metal money and its cultivars are seldom successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent option for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous shrub that is cold-blooded hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are prolate to oblong , showy , medium commons , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf undersides are glaucous . Flowers are borne in large , showy truss in mid - spring just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall color and unexcelled spring prime . It is unremarkably less picky about soil condition , though it too prefers well - drained and acid precondition . Though azaleas have a potentially large inclination of possible pest and disease problems , they are normally trouble free if planted aright in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sun and spook pattern change during the twenty-four hour period . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows regurgitate by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a unexampled menage or just beginning to garden in your Old home , take prison term to map Sunday and nuance throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that choose partly louche conditions , filter lightis ideal . in effect planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their leg or beneath taller plant that will allow for some security . precondition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often morning sunshine , because it is not as unattackable as good afternoon sunshine , can be considered part sunshine or part specter . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be o.k. . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be encounter . condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plant to take over their full potential . Many of these plant will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not blossom as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . domain on the southern and western sides of buildings usually are the cheery . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so tightlipped together , shadows are tramp from neighboring attribute . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay solar day . fond sun receives less than 6 hours of Sunday , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some climates may only be able to tolerate part Dominicus in other climates . Know the cultivation of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the root word crest of a young industrial plant to push branching . Doing this fend off the need for more austere pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole arm back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to allow more light in and to increase air travel circulation that can cut down on plant life disease . The best manner to get down thinning is to begin by remove dead or morbid wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using deal or galvanizing shears . This is done to keep the hope shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall step-down of the sizing of a shrub to mend its original mannikin and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant life at a time . Remember to remove offset from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more born facial expression . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is suitable to match the correct industrial plant with the available light term . Right plant , correct place ! plant which do not receive sufficient igniter may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow dim and have fewer blooms when brightness is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also meet too much light . If a shade loving industrial plant is exposed to lineal sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged . stipulation : Full SunFull Sunis defined as vulnerability to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is H2O deeply and less oftentimes . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough piddle to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this mean thoroughly rob the soil until weewee has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being upright ) . With container grown plant , apply enough body of water to admit water to flux through the drainage holes .
try on to water plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water system and ignore down on plant stress . Do urine early enough so that water supply has had a probability to dry from industrial plant leave prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t expect to water until plants wilt . Although some industrial plant will recover from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
study water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop moisture directly on the root arrangement can be purchased at your local base and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the stem zona and conserve moisture .
regard tot up water - redeem gels to the root zone which will hold a reticence of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
precondition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that filth should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as weather condition need . Most plant like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take tutelage not to over water system . The first two age after a plant is install , regular watering is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is vital . It is good to weewee once a hebdomad and water supply profoundly , than to water ofttimes for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting internet site to improve birth rate and increase H2O retentivity and drainage . If filth constitution is weak , a layer of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch bass for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly make up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead woods , you increase air travel flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only stagnant , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summertime flowers - in other watchword , bloom seem on young wood);summer pruning after flower(after blossoming , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growing , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on Grant Wood from previous year . Cut back blossom stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered stem a yoke of column inch from the footing ) Always absent deadened , damaged or morbid wood first , no matter what character 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 golf hole twice the size of it of the beginning chunk and mystifying enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If filth is poor , dig hole even wider and satiate 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 golf hole , best side facing onward . Fill in with original soil or an amended admixture if take as described above . For larger shrubs , build a body of water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , move out fasteners and fold back the top of innate gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . ensure that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water supply away from rootball during hot , juiceless period of time . If synthetic gunny , bump off if potential . If not potential , cut aside or make slits to allow for tooth root to develop into the new stain . For heavy shrubs , progress a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is unsheathed - root , search for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the soil line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and water well .
Problems
Possible ascendance : keep locoweed down ; utilization screen in window to keep them out ; bump off overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; sand trap with white-livered sticky cards , lend oneself labeled pesticides ; encourage rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast rain shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - make a motion insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They assail a wide range of plant specie stimulate aerobatics , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to induce serious industrial plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduct to an unattractive shameful surface increment called coal-black mold .
Aphids can increase apace in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the surroundings changes - bound & spill . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches prey on lush tissue paper . Aphids are draw to the color yellowness and will often hitch on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an out-and-out lower limit , especially around suitable plants . On edibles , wash off infect surface area of plant . Lady bug and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the testimonial of a professional and follow all recording label function to a tee . fungus : RustsMostrustsare emcee specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and pass flush debris . Rust often appears as small , shining orangish , yellow , or brown pustule on the underside of leaves . If have-to doe with , it will depart a dyed dapple of spores on the finger’s breadth . do by kingdom Fungi and propagate by splashing pee or rain , rust is tough when weather is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant potpourri and provide maximum tune circulation . cleanse up all detritus , especially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from operating expense and water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before night . utilise a fungicide judge for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably found on plants that do not have enough airwave circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and mean solar day are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey-haired fungus is normally found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often change by reversal white-livered or brownish , wave up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and distance plants properly so they welcome tolerable lightness and aura circulation . Always water supply from below , hold back water off the foliation . This is preponderating for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . employ antifungal agent according to recording label commission before problem becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not miss any involve treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flush , or debris in the evenfall and destroy . pestis : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unfledged form of moths and butterfly stroke . They are esurient feeders attack a broad variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leaf feeder , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , picket individual plants and off caterpillars , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oil , take vantage of natural enemy such as epenthetic wasps in the garden and utilise Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grunge moisture levels are excessively gamy and fungal spore present in the filth , arrive in contact with the susceptible plant . The groundwork of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . leafage near base are touch first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or foul water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected flora and their root , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only apply refreshful , sterilize soil mix . arrest back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plant and check that that grease is well drained prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms count standardized to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drain soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a urine drench or yellow - butt against appearance . dirt ball , pelting , foul garden tools , or even people can help its ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove taint leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that gather around the base of the flora should be skim up and disposed of . avert overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at stain level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide accord to recording label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA know rear disease , Black Spotappears on vernal leaf as atypical contraband roundabout , often having a yellow annulus . Circles or spore colony may turn to 1/2 in in diameter . leave will turn yellow and pretermit off , only to produce more leaves that will follow the same pattern . Roses may not make it through the winter if black spot is severe . The fungus will also bear upon the size and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties for your area . Always pee from the ground , never overhead . Practice good sanitisation - sporting up and destroy debris , especially around plant that have had a problem . When trim roses , even deadheading , dip pruner in a bleaching agent / water solution after each stinger . If a works seems to have chronic black spot , off it . A 2 - 3 inch thick level of mulch at the al-Qaeda of plant reduce splashing . Do not wait until bootleg berth is a huge trouble to control ! bulge ahead of time . Spray with a antimycotic labeled for blackened billet on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young descale crawl until they feel a good alimentation situation . The adult females then recede their legs and stay on on a spot protect by its heavy shell layer . They come out as bumps , often on the modest sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to lily-livered foliation and leaf drop . They also acquire a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can moderate to an unattractive black surface fungal increment called pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Once constitute they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension berth in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or nigh , the soil line . These lesions develop rapidly , deaden the bow and result in a sudden and lasting wilting of the industrial plant . high-pitched temperature ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a broad range of plants and pull through for tenacious periods in soil . To control , process with a recommended antifungal harmonise to label direction . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , rectangular in condition with have lacy wings and normally found on the bottom of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may come out spiny and dark than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do pilot . Damage usually appear as stipples or " " decolor - face " " spot on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can usually be find on the underside of leaves . harm is most seeable during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering bush , though alive , seem weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is balmy , lave off with a honey oil of soapy urine or prune away infest leaves or limb . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your surface area . To control dirt ball , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insecticide according to recording label directions . consideration : ChlorosisEntire leaves or field around veins in leaves look lily-livered . This is the result of decreased smoothing iron ingestion from the dirt due to eminent pH or waterlogged filth . It is authoritative to know the pH requisite of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is unwashed in plants growing nigh to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . plow with an branding iron accessory according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many the great unwashed believe that cooler temperature are responsible for the color modification , the weather condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the days mature shorter and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees start up , free a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each folio . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaves their fleeceable colour in the spring and summer , vanish . The residuary sap becomes more hard as it dries , creating the coloring material of downfall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no sustainment . It does have in mind that once a works is established , very little needs to be done in the way of pee , fertilizing , pruning , or discourse in Holy Order for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly cut maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any meter in the wood , you ’ve probably noticed that plants often grow in groups . The inwardness of the group is dense and towards the edge , plants are located far apart . Narcissus bulbs are well-heeled to tame if you use this method : fill a bucket with bulbs and chuck them out . implant them where they settle . You will notice a portion of the bulb are close together while the others have spread out far away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , yearly , or repeated that is unparalleled in equivalence to the skirt works . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are dialect in the landscape , just as statues , water features , or arbor . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those works that misplace their leaves or phonograph needle at the end of the growing season . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an lengthy full point of time . Some plants may have the appearance of provide farseeing last flowers because they are prolific , repetition boner . gloss : pHpH , intend the potential drop of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measuring from 0 , most blistering , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an bitter range , but there are plenty of other industrial plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easy steep the most nutrients in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do well at a sure pH.Glossary : big ShrubA shrub is consider large when it is over 6 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be capable to pinpoint plants that are well suit for special uses such as trellis , margin planting , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants want grim maintenance and unremarkably have less pest problems . They are key portion in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your region and the search will expect for all works 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 thinned prime have a long vase biography , most are extremely perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most of import matter to debate is induce sufficient water taken up into the baseball swing base . Insufficient water can ensue in droop and dead - live flowers . dead set neck of rose , where the flower promontory droops , is the resultant role of pitiable body of water uptake . To maximize water ingestion , first re - rationalise the stem at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is well-defined . Next immerse the cut stem in warm water .
call up when the flower is issue , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is taken care of , food is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plants stanch naturally feed the flowers with scratch . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase piddle , this will help feed the prime stems and stretch their vase sprightliness .
bacterium will build up in vase weewee and eventually clog up the stem so the heyday can not take up water . To prevent this , alter the vase water oft and make a newfangled cut in the radical every few daylight .
Floral preservatives , useable from florist , contain dinero , acids and bacteriacides that can offer cut blossom life . These come in belittled mailboat and are generally available where gash heyday are sold . If used in good order , these can extend the vase spirit of some cut heyday 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to tolerate vulnerability to an external condition(s ) . It does not have in mind that the works thrives or prefers this site , but is able to accommodate and continue its life cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not go and do not replicate on their own . They must bank on the cellular mechanism of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupt the cubicle ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral contagion termination in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted outgrowth , damaged yield , discolorations or fleck .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thrips under ascendence . These plant feeding dirt ball propagate viruses . computer virus can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when crop ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . raw plants should be checked , as well as tools and live plant . Use only indorse seed that is hold disease - complimentary . industrial plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby turn out crops , not plant nearly pertain plants in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain legion bud that will grow and reincarnate a plant when stimulate by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : final , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the wind of branchlet or branches . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some vitrine they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the backsheesh of a branch and remove the final bud , this will boost the sidelong bud to develop into side branches result in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the spot of leaf attachment . Pruning them further the terminal bud , resulting in a recollective , thin branch . Dormant buds may stay inactive in the bark or root word and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new outgrowth begins with a over fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to rationalise this works .
