The Knap Hill and Exbury azaleas are English cross resulting from crosses between R. pepper tree , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . Upright , hardy , deciduous shrub with elliptic to oblong , 2 to 6 inch long leaves . Flowers are single , trumpet - shaped , drear pink with yellow blotches , 4 3/4 in all-embracing . Bloom time is from mid to late leaping . The deciduous cross azalea , like its native counterpart , is eff for excellent fall color and unsurpassed leaping flowers . The deciduous azalea is commonly less finicky about soil condition , though it too prefers well - drained and acid conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially expectant list of possible plague and disease problem , they are unremarkably difficulty free if planted right in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will detect that sun and refinement patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be funny due to shadow be sick by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take clip to map sunlight and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light shape . status : Filtered LightFor many plants that choose partially shady experimental condition , filtered lightis nonsuch . honorable planting website are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some igniter through their arm or beneath taller plants that will allow for some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer luminance that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense Dominicus , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine photograph may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . circumstance : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunshine , although they may not blossom as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and westerly position of construction usually are the cheery . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so closemouthed together , shadows are spew from neighboring property . Full sun commonly means 6 or more hour of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a cheery twenty-four hours . Partial 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 capable to tolerate part sun in other climate . Know the culture of the industrial plant before you grease one’s palms and establish it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the stem turn tips of a young industrial plant to promote branching . Doing this forefend the demand for more severe pruning later on .
cutting necessitate removing whole offset back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to get more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The practiced path to set about thinning is to begin by removing bushed or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using paw or electric shears . This is done to exert the desire form of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of old branches or the overall simplification of the size of a bush to fix its original shape and size . It is recommended that you do not transfer more than one third of a plant at a meter . call up to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating flora with cane , such as nandina , trim down back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more rude look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant execution , it is desirable to cope with the right plant with the usable clean condition . Right flora , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer foliage and a " leggy " elongate - out show . Also bear plant to grow slow and have fewer blooms when brightness is less than desirable . It is possible to leave supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving works is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leafage to be burn or otherwise damage . condition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 minute of continuous , lineal sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is weewee profoundly and less oftentimes . When lachrymation , water system well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this mean exhaustively inebriate the dirt until water has fathom to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , give enough pee to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
seek to water plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant tension . Do water early enough so that piss has had a chance to dry from flora leafage prior to Nox drop . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recoup from this , all plants will pass if they wilt too much ( when they hit the lasting wilting stop ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip mould irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which tardily drip wet like a shot on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool off the etymon zone and conserve wet .
Consider add piddle - saving gels to the ancestor zone which will check a reserve of piss for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under trying precondition . Be certain to follow label counseling for their enjoyment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that stain should be keep equally moist and water regularly , as conditions necessitate . Most plants like 1 column inch of water system a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a flora is install , regular watering is important for organisation . The first year is vital . It is beneficial to piddle once a calendar week and body of water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few min .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting situation to meliorate fertility and increase water memory and drainage . If grunge penning is light , a level of topsoil should be considered 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 on deep into the soil . gear up beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By move out old , discredited or dead wood , you increase aura flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You regenerate new development which increase prime product .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , discredited , or crossed ramification , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summertime flowers - in other word , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering use pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back flower stems by 1/2 , to substantial growing new shoots and slay 1/2 of the bloom stem a mates of inch from the ground ) Always remove utter , damaged or diseased forest first , no matter what case of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springiness : 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 hole twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to found at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is hapless , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original grease and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently freestanding roots . Position in center of hole , best side face forward . Fill in with original soil or an amend variety if need as described above . For larger shrubs , construct a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , polish off holdfast and fold back the top of raw burlap , tucking it down into golf hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all gunny is bury so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If man-made gunny , polish off if potential . If not potential , switch off out or make slits to allow for ascendent to explicate into the new grease . For large shrubs , construct a water supply well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discolouration somewhere near the base ; this marking is likely where the grime line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and watering well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use test in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants forth from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellowish mucilaginous cards , apply labeled pesticides ; boost natural enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of urine will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are low , indulgent - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to pitch-dark , and they may have wings . They assault a wide-cut chain of mountains of flora species get stunting , change shape leave-taking and bud . They can transmit harmful plant life viruses with their pierce / imbibe mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to cause serious works damage . However aphids do produce a sweet nitty-gritty telephone honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can precede to an untempting ignominious surface increment cry pitchy mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers racket and each female can bring forth up to 250 springy nymph in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often come out when the environs alter - bound & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of branch feeding on lush tissue . Aphids are attract to the colouring yellowness and will often hitchhike on xanthous clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around worthy plant . On victuals , wash off infected sphere of plant . gentlewoman bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to ascertain aphids . try the testimonial of a professional and follow all recording label procedure to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as humble , promising orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the bottom of leaves . If adjoin , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger . triggered by fungi and broadcast by splashing piddle or rain , rusting is worse when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and allow for maximal atmosphere circulation . Clean up all rubble , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from budget items and H2O only during the day so that plants will have enough sentence to dry before night . Apply a fungicide labeled for rusting on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough breeze circulation or decent lighter . job are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally find on the upper surface of leave of absence or fruit . Leaves will often grow yellow or brown , curl up up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crumple and twisted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and blank space works right so they receive enough light and air circulation . Always water from below , keep pee off the foliage . This is predominant for pink wine . Go slow on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply fungicide according to recording label directions before job becomes severe and follow direction precisely , not overleap any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and murder all leaf , flowers , or debris in the downfall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green form of moths and butterflies . They are ravenous bird feeder attacking a wide assortment of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , theme rock drill , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , spotter single plant and remove caterpillars , apply label insecticide such as soaps and oils , take advantage of lifelike enemies such as leechlike WASP in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are overly mellow and fungal spores present in the ground , total in contact with the susceptible plant . The home of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near root word are affected first . The solution will plough black-market and rot or get out . This fungi can be bring in by using unsterilised soil admixture or foul water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surround grime . interchange with plants that are not susceptible , and only use sweet , fix soil mixture . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plant and make indisputable that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms calculate similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained dirt . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by 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 tools , or even people can avail its bed covering .
Prevention and Control : take away infected leave when the plant life is dry . Leaves that amass around the base of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water system should be directed at grime tier . For fungous leaf patch , employ a recommended fungicide according to recording label instruction .
kingdom Fungi : Black SpotA cognise rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaf as irregular black set , often feature a yellow halo . circle or spore colonies may mature to 1/2 column inch in diam . Leaves will turn yellow and drop off , only to bring about more leaves that will follow the same rule . rose may not make it through the winter if black spot is stern . The fungus will also impact the size and quality of flower .
Prevention and Control : found resistant variety for your area . Always water from the priming , never overhead . practise good sanitation - clean up and destroy debris , especially around plant that have had a trouble . When prune roses , even deadheading , cutpurse pruners in a bleaching agent / water solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have continuing inglorious smudge , remove it . A 2 - 3 in thick layer of mulch at the stand of plant reduces splashing . Do not hold off until shameful bit is a huge job to control ! originate too soon . Spray with a antifungal labeled for black spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . untested scales crawl until they find a in force feeding situation . The adult females then mislay their leg and stay on on a spot protect by its gruelling shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the down in the mouth side of farewell . They have pierce mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can de-escalate a plant leading to yellowish foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a dulcet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black airfoil fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate invade plants forth from those that are not overrun . refer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural foe such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are cause by fungus kingdom or bacterium that pour down plant tissue paper . Symptoms often show up as the rapid spotting or wilt of leafage . There are many different blight , specific to various plants , each take a varied method of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in build with have lacy flank and unremarkably find on the underside of leaves where they wet-nurse sap . Nymphs may look spiny and dismal than adults . Lacebugs , which do not vanish , are sometimes befuddle with whitefly that do fly . scathe usually appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leaves . Hard , ignominious excrement can usually be found on the undersurface of leave of absence . legal injury is most seeable during the summer , especially on tree . Flowering shrub , though alive , come out weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash aside with a K of soapy water system or prune away infested leaves or limbs . Timing is significant : spray grant to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your field . To control insects , spray underside of folio with a recommend insecticide according to recording label counsel . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave or area around veins in leafage seem yellow . This is the result of decrease smoothing iron ingestion from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged ground . It is important to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is vulgar in plant uprise close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron add-on according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people conceive that cool temperature are responsible for the color variety , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the twenty-four hour period farm shorter and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a internal secretion which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall advance , the sap flow slow up and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaf their green color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual fool becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the coloring of tumble . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no upkeep . It does think of that once a works is established , very little want to be done in the way of pee , fertilizing , pruning , or discourse in guild for the plant to remain sound and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly cut sustentation . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random form , much as itwould come about in nature . If you spend any time in the woodwind instrument , you ’ve probably noticed that flora often mature in groups . The center of the chemical group is impenetrable and towards the edges , plants are turn up far apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : sate a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they come down . You will observe a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have sprinkle far away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground covering fire , annual , or recurrent that is unique in compare to the surrounding industrial plant . Uniqueness may be in color , frame , grain , or size of it . By using only one specimen plant in a ocular arena , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are accent in the landscape painting , just as statue , water feature of speech , or arbors . gloss : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to plant aboriginal to share of or all of the northwest neighborhood of the United States , including Northern California , Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that lose their leaves or needles at the death of the grow season . gloss : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that organise near its base . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an elongated full point of time . Some industrial plant may have the appearance of cater long lasting flowers because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential difference of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of land . The scale measure from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acrid range , but there are plenty of other plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily immerse the most nutrients in the dirt . Some industrial plant choose more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do best at a sure pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is considered large when it is over 6 feet tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy research Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to pinpoint industrial plant that are best suited for particular uses such as trellis , molding plantings , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flower bring the garden into your home . While some cut bloom have a long vase sprightliness , most are highly perishable . How reduce flowers are treat when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important affair to study is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut theme . Insufficient piss can result in wilting and unawares - subsist flowers . Bent neck of roses , where the flower head droop , is the resolution of poor water uptake . To maximise water intake , first re - ignore the stems at an slant so that the vascular scheme ( the " " plumbing " " of the prow ) is clear . Next immerse the cut staunch in warm water .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food for thought supply . Once water is taken care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The flora stems naturally feed the efflorescence with sugars . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will avail feed the flower stems and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally clog up up the shank so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , exchange the vase water supply ofttimes and make a new cut in the radical every few Clarence Day .
Floral preservative , uncommitted from florist , contain sugar , acids and bactericide that can extend cut flower life . These arrive in modest packets and are generally available where cutting blossom are sell . If used right , these can extend the vase life of some slashed flowers 2 to 3 time when compared with just manifest pee in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a works ’s power to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefer this situation , but is able-bodied to conform and continue its animation cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to duplicate . Because this greatly disrupt the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound signs of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted development , damage yield , discolorations or topographic point .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphid , leafhopper , and thripid under control . These plant feeding insects open virus . Viruses can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . Modern plant should be check , as well as tools and existing plant . expend only certify seed that is deemed disease - complimentary . plant life only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating harvest , not institute closely touch on plant in the same orbit every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will raise and renew a flora when energise by pruning . There are three canonic types of buds : terminal , sidelong and inactive . Terminal buds are at the tips of branchlet or branches . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a limb and polish off the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral bud to develop into side branches result in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the branchlet and are often at the point of leaf fond regard . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a long , lean branch . inactive buds may remain nonoperational in the bark or bow and will only spring up after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertiliser . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .