Narrow , deciduous azalea with lightly hirsute , mid - green leafage and trusses of 6 to 19 funnel shape - form , fragrant , clean or pink bloom . Grows 10 to 15 ft in top . The deciduous native azalea , like it ’s hybrid counterpart , is known for excellent tumble people of colour and unexcelled fountain flowers . Though azaleas have a potentially expectant listing of possible pestilence and disease problems , they are usually trouble free if plant aright in proper cultural conditions .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

Watering

Planting

Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only stagnant , morbid , discredited , or track branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , young development which produces summertime flower - in other discussion , flowers appear on young wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the honest-to-god growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from premature twelvemonth . Cut back flowered fore by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and absent 1/2 of the flowered stems a twosome of inches from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or morbid wood first , no matter what eccentric 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 . summertime 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 hole twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to establish at the same level the shrub was in the container . If territory is pitiable , dig hole even across-the-board and fill up with a motley half original soil and half compost or dirt amendment .

Carefully take away bush from container and lightly separate roots . Position in center of trap , best side look forward . Fill in with original stain or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For big shrubs , build a water supply well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .

If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , take away fasteners and fold back the top of natural gunny , insert it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during blistering , ironic periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , swerve forth or make twat to allow for roots to make grow into the raw territory . For gravid shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .

If shrub is unsheathed - root , await for a discoloration somewhere near the al-Qaeda ; this bull’s eye is likely where the soil crease was . If stain is too sandy or too clayey , total constitutional topic . This will assist with both drainage and piddle retention content . Fill grunge , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : machinate ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an decorative feature of speech , a planting choice when there is little or no soil to implant in , or for plant that command a soil type not find in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is substandard . If produce more than one plant in a container , make indisputable that all have standardized cultural requirement . Choose a container that is bass and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative balance between the to the full originate plant and the container . Plant big container in the piazza you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken remains pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter localize over the cakehole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the flora you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) engross moisture readily and evenly when soaked . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you think .

Prior to filling a container with grime , wet potting soil in the suitcase or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a point that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with dirt line when task is unadulterated . Water well .

Problems

Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . look up your local garden nerve center professional or the Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . boost natural enemies such as noblewoman beetles in the garden to help reduce population grade of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that attend like diminutive moths , which snipe many types of industrial plant . The fly adult stage prefers the underside of leave to feed and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female person can lie up to 500 eggs in a life couple of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insect when the plant life is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , finally leading to implant death if they are not turn back . They can impart many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also produce a fresh message called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black open fungous ontogeny called sooty mold .

Possible command : keep weed down ; use screen in window to keep them out ; remove overrun plants away from non - infested plant ; practice a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; lying in wait with yellow gummy calling card , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a sound steady shower of pee will wash them off the works . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , flaccid - corporate , slow - move insect that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many semblance , rate from green to brown to black , and they may have offstage . They attack a wide reach of plant species causing stunting , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful industrial plant viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , loosely , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to have serious plant life harm . However aphid do produce a sweet meat call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil growth called jet mold .

Aphids can increase quickly in turn and each female person can acquire up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environs changes - spring & drop . They ’re often massed at the wind of branches fertilize on succulent tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the coloring yellow and will often hitch on yellow clothing .

Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , lave off infect area of industrial plant . dame bug and lacewing will feast on aphids in the garden . There are various product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to contain aphid . look for the good word of a professional and follow all label procedures to a golf tee . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough aviation circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray-headed fungus is commonly found on the upper open of leave or yield . leafage will often call on yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges ruckle and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarf and often drop early .

Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate mixture and blank plants properly so they receive tolerable spark and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominate for roses . Go slowly on the N fertilizer . use fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes dangerous and comply direction precisely , not missing any necessitate treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and off all leaves , peak , or rubble in the crepuscule and demolish . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when stain wet levels are overly high-pitched and fungal spores present in the soil , come up in contact with the susceptible plant . The root word of stem discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and conk out . Leaves near base are touch first . The roots will turn black and decompose or break . This fungus kingdom can be introduced by using unsterilised soil premix or pollute water .

Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their tooth root , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with plant that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , desexualize land mix . Hold back on fertilize too . Try not to over water works and make indisputable that land is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .

Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide-eyed variety of plant - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they rule a full feeding website . The grownup female then misplace their stage and stay on a spot protect by its hard carapace bed . They seem as bumps , often on the humiliated incline of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can dampen a plant pass to lily-livered foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance scream honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can guide to an unattractive pitch-black open fungal growth called coal-black mold .

Prevention and Control : Once base they are hard to control . Isolate infest works away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre of attention professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their dominance . further natural opposition such as leechlike wasps in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are cause by fungus or bacterium that kill plant life tissue . symptom often show up as the rapid catching or wilting of leafage . There are many unlike blights , specific to various plants , each requiring a varied method acting of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in contour with have lacy annex and commonly found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not vanish , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . equipment casualty usually appears as stipples or " " decolorize - looking " " spots on the parting . Hard , black excrement can usually be found on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summertime , specially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though live , look weak and almost lifeless .

Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash away with a jet plane of soapy urine or prune aside infest leave of absence or limbs . Timing is of import : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To verify insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in leave appear chicken . This is the event of decrease iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is crucial to fuck the pH requirements of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to better drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is vulgar in plants growing close to concrete or plant in alkaline soils . process with an iron addendum harmonise to label directions .

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