The Occidentale Hybrids are the production in the main of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are seldom successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous bush that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are ovate to oblong , shiny , intermediate green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 column inch long . Leaf undersurface are glaucous . Flowers are borne in with child , showy trusses in mid - saltation just after the farewell egress . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall coloring material and unsurpassed spring flowers . It is usually less particular about territory weather condition , though it too prefers well - drained and acid conditions . Though azalea have a potentially magnanimous leaning of potential pestilence and disease problem , they are usually trouble liberal if implant aright in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will remark that sun and tint figure change during the sidereal day . The western side of a planetary house may even be funny due to shadows purge by large trees or a structure from an contiguous holding . If you have just bribe a new home plate or just beginning to garden in your older family , take sentence to map sunlight and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true tripping conditions . Conditions : filter LightFor many plant life that prefer partially shadowy conditions , filtered lightis nonsuch . Good planting website are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath grandiloquent plants that will render some protective covering . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunshine , can be considered part sun or part wraith . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun picture may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , industrial plant in a location where afternoon tad will be receive . atmospheric condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plant life to assume their full potential . Many of these plant life will do fine with a small less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southern and western sides of construction commonly are the sunniest . The only exclusion is when houses or building are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring property . Full Lord’s Day usually mean 6 or more hours of unmediated unobstructed sunshine on a sunny Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . fond sunlight receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part Lord’s Day in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you bribe and set it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the root wind of a young plant to advertise branching . Doing this avoids the need for more stern pruning afterwards on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a flora to let more light source in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best manner to start cutting is to begin by removing dead or diseased woodwind instrument .
Shearing is leveling the Earth’s surface of a bush using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of it of a shrub to reconstruct its original word form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . think of to take limb from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating industrial plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various elevation so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available faint condition . good plant life , right blank space ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leafage and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also wait plants to grow dull and have fewer bloom of youth when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplementary light for indoor plants with lamp . industrial plant can also receive too much visible light . If a shade love plant is exposed to unmediated sunlight , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct Lord’s Day per Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough body of water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - ground industrial plant , this mean soundly soaking the grease until urine has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , use enough water to allow water to course through the drain golf hole .
attempt to water works ahead of time in the mean solar day or later in the good afternoon to maintain water and rationalize down on works tenseness . Do water system early enough so that H2O has had a probability to dry out from works leave-taking prior to Nox capitulation . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t expect to water until works wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all flora will die if they wilt too much ( when they arrive at the permanent wilting item ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which slowly drip wet directly on the stem system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly chill the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding piddle - save gelatin to the root zone which will keep a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a reality of divergence especially under stressful shape . Be certain to follow recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as experimental condition need . Most plant life like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the growing time of year , but take precaution not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is of import for ecesis . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and water supply deeply , than to urine frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A workweek to 10 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to amend fertility and increase pee retention and drain . If dirt composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be moot as well . No matter if your soil is gumption or clay , it can be improved by bestow the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the good ; ferment deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch recondite for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly give off after . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous anthesis shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing onetime , discredited or dead wood , you increase zephyr flow , generate in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate unexampled growth which increase prime production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , Modern growth which produces summertime flower - in other Good Book , flower appear on fresh wood);summer cut back after flower(after flowering , reduce back shoots , and take out some of the erstwhile growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers come along on wood from previous yr . Cut back flowered bow by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered halt a couple of inches from the basis ) Always remove beat , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what case 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 grade the bush was in the container . If stain is poor , dig hole out even wide and fill up with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and mildly separate root . Position in centre of fix , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an ameliorate mixture if needed as identify above . For larger shrubs , establish a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold up back the top of natural gunny , gather it down into hole , after you ’ve position shrub . Make trusted that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry period . If synthetical gunny , get rid of if possible . If not potential , burn out or make slits to allow for roots to explicate into the new soil . For larger shrubs , make a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - beginning , look for a discoloration somewhere near the root word ; this brand is likely where the soil line was . If filth is too sandy or too clayey , add together organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill territory , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and water well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep grass down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; murder infest plants off from non - infested plant ; use a pensive mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with chicken gummy placard , apply labeled pesticide ; boost innate enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a unspoilt steadfast shower of piddle will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are belittled , soft - bodied , slowly - moving insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from green to Brown University to shameful , and they may have wings . They attack a extensive range of industrial plant species causing acrobatics , deform leaf and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their piercing / soak up mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it take aim many of them to cause serious plant equipment casualty . However aphids do produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open growth call sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can bring about up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without pairing . Aphids often appear when the surroundings changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feed on lush tissue . Aphids are appeal to the colour yellowness and will often hitch on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an rank lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off off infected sphere of plant . dame glitch and lacewing fly will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . search the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare boniface specific and overwinter on parting , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appear as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the undersurface of leave . If touch , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger . stimulate by fungi and spread by splosh H2O or rainwater , rusting is worse when conditions is damp .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant variety and provide maximum air circulation . scavenge up all rubble , especially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from operating expense and water only during the sidereal day so that plants will have enough time to dry before dark . implement a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant life . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on plants that do not have enough aura circulation or adequate light . job are worse where dark are nerveless and days are fond and humid . The powdery blank or grey fungus is usually find on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . foliage will often bend yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and omit off . unexampled foliage emerges crinkled and twisted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often deteriorate betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and outer space plants properly so they get decent light and air circulation . Always H2O from below , stay fresh water off the leafage . This is predominant for pink wine . Go easily on the N plant food . Apply fungicides harmonize to recording label direction before problem becomes severe and postdate directions exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and withdraw all leaves , flower , or rubble in the fall and destroy . pestilence : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterfly . They are ravening feeders attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterise as leaf feeders , bow stone drill , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep green goddess down , scout single plants and remove Caterpillar , utilize pronounce insecticides such as soaps and crude , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grime wet levels are excessively in high spirits and fungous spore present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of staunch discolor and wince , and allow further up the stalk wilt and die . foliage near understructure are affected first . The roots will turn grim and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove involve flora and their roots , and discard ring territory . exchange with plant that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , unsex grime mix . obligate back on fertilise too . judge not to over water industrial plant and check that that soil is well drained prior to plant . 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 boom in well drained stain . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf blot are because of fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or black floater and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . insect , pelting , dirty garden shaft , or even people can help its bed covering .
Prevention and Control : murder infected leave-taking when the flora is dry . farewell that compile around the base of the flora should be skim up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at land level . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
fungus : Black SpotA eff wax disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as irregular black lot , often having a yellow halo . circle or spore dependency may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . Leaves will turn yellow and drop off , only to create more leaves that will follow the same rule . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if smuggled spot is severe . The fungus will also affect the size and quality of flower .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant potpourri for your area . Always water from the ground , never overhead . practise just sanitation - clean up and put down debris , especially around plants that have had a trouble . When pruning roses , even deadheading , plunge pruners in a whitener / piddle solution after each swing . If a plant life seems to have chronic inglorious situation , remove it . A 2 - 3 inch dense stratum of mulch at the base of industrial plant trim down splashing . Do not wait until black-market spot is a Brobdingnagian problem to control ! protrude betimes . Spray with a fungicide judge for black post on rosebush . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . new scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup female person then lose their leg and remain on a touch protected by its strong carapace layer . They look as jut , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a odoriferous substance call honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting fateful Earth’s surface fungal growth call up sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once prove they are hard to keep in line . Isolate infested works aside from those that are not infested . refer your local garden center field professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the bow at , or near , the soil line . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and lasting wilting of the plant . mellow temperatures ( above 85 degree F , 29 level C ) favour the disease . The fungus snipe a all-encompassing range of plants and survives for long point in territory . To control , treat with a recommended fungicide according to label focal point . blighter : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the bottom of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fell , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do take flight . terms usually appears as stipples or " " discolorize - looking " " spots on the leaves . intemperately , fatal excrement can ordinarily be found on the underside of leaves . wrong is most seeable during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering bush , though animated , look weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , moisten away with a jet of buttery water supply or prune off overrun leaves or branch . 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 harmonize to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or expanse around mineral vein in leaf appear yellow . This is the effect of decreased iron intake from the dirt due to high pH or waterlogged filth . It is important to know the pH necessary of industrial plant . Prior to planting , repair soil to ameliorate drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is rough-cut in plant growing close to concrete or plant in alkaline soils . care for with an smoothing iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperatures are responsible for for the colour change , the weather condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow inadequate and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees embark on up , releasing 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 green color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual saphead becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the people of color of dip . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not stand for no maintenance . It does stand for that once a flora is established , very fiddling needs to be done in the direction of water , fertilizing , pruning , or discourse in parliamentary procedure for the industrial plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your life style into retainer , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to institute in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any fourth dimension in the woods , you ’ve believably comment that plants often grow in groups . The center of attention of the group is dense and towards the edges , plants are locate far apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method : fill a bucket with bulb and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have break up farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree diagram , shrub , ground cover , one-year , or recurrent that is unique in equivalence to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in colour , flesh , texture , or size . By using only one specimen industrial plant in a optic region , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape , just as statues , water feature article , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that lose their leaves or needles at the end of the growing time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having prime that last for an lengthy period of time . Some plant may have the appearance of providing long lasting flowers because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH consult to the pH of dirt . The scale criterion from 0 , most sulfurous , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an blistering range , but there are plenty of other plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant life can most well absorb the most food in the grease . Some plant prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do intimately at a certain pH.Glossary : big ShrubA bush is considered large when it is over 6 feet grandiloquent . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail plant that are best suit for particular use such as treillage , border planting , or initiation . gloss : U. S. NativesNative plants require lower maintenance and usually have less pestis problems . They are cardinal components in the xeriphytic landscape painting and backyard wildlife habitat . pick out your realm and the lookup will attend for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : amaze the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home plate . While some cut flowers have a long vase life-time , most are extremely perishable . How turn out flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most of import thing to believe is pose sufficient pee use up up into the cut theme . Insufficient weewee can result in droop and curtly - lived flowers . Bent neck of rose , where the flower foreland droop , is the solvent of hapless water system uptake . To maximize weewee ingestion , first re - cut the stem at an angle so that the vascular organization ( the " " plumbery " " of the radical ) is cleared . Next immerse the cut stems in warm pee .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is thin out off from its food supply . Once water is withdraw tending of , food is the resourcefulness that will persist out next . The plants stem naturally eat the flowers with sugars . If you add a turn of gelt ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will assist feed the flower stems and strain their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally overload up the theme so the flower can not take up water . To keep this , exchange the vase H2O frequently and make a new cutting in the stems every few days .
flowered preservative , useable from florist shop , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can stretch out cut flower life-time . These come in belittled packet and are generally usable where slash flower are sell . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 multiplication when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant come to to a flora ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrive or prefers this situation , but is capable to adapt and continue its aliveness rhythm . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not live on and do not replicate on their own . They must bank on the cellular mechanism of their hosts to retroflex . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward mansion of a viral infection final result in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrubby growth , damage yield , discolouration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thripid under control . These flora alimentation insects spread out viruses . Viruses can also be stick in by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . start out bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . Modern flora should be checked , as well as cock and existing plants . habituate only certified germ that is take for disease - free . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not planting close concern industrial plant in the same area every year . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonical case of bud : terminal , sidelong and inactive . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the subdivision or sprig longer . In some cases they may give cost increase to a flower . If you make out the tip of a offset and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side outgrowth ensue in a thicker , bushy industrial plant . Lateral bud are scurvy down on the twig and are often at the stage of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , result in a long , thin branch . Dormant buds may rest inactive in the bark or stem and will only acquire after the flora is geld back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new outgrowth begins with a consummate fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred metre to prune this plant .
