The Knap Hill and Exbury azaleas are English hybrids ensue from cross between R. molle , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . vertical , sturdy , deciduous shrub with egg-shaped to oblong , 2 to 6 inch long folio . Flowers are borne in huge , showy trusses of 5 to 7 blooms per bunch . salad days time is from mid to late saltation . The deciduous loan-blend azalea , like its native counterpart , is known for first-class fall colouring material and unexceeded spring flowers . The deciduous azalea is unremarkably less picky about territory conditions , though it too prefer well - drained and acid conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially tumid inclination of possible pest and disease problems , they are normally difficulty free if found correctly in right ethnical condition .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and spectre pattern change during the daylight . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadow cast by large trees or a anatomical structure from an next dimension . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home base , take time to map sunlight and shade throughout the 24-hour interval . You will get a more accurate flavor for your site ’s true light conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many works that prefer partially shady status , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath marvelous plants that will provide some protective cover . weather condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be consider part sunshine or part ghost . If you subsist in an arena 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 afternoon shade will be received . term : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to bear their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not blossom as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . orbit on the southern and westerly sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exclusion is when house or buildings are so close together , apparition are drop from neighboring properties . Full sunshine usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sun on a sunny day . Partial Sunday receive less than 6 hour of sun , but more than 3 hour . plant capable to take full Dominicus in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem gratuity of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more stark pruning after on .
cutting involve take away whole arm back to the luggage compartment . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on works disease . The good way to begin thinning is to begin by remove dead or pathological wood .
Shearing is point the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall simplification of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . think of to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various height so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is suitable to match the right plant with the available light condition . Right plant , right place ! industrial plant which do not pick up sufficient Christ Within may become wan in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also look plants to grow deadening and have few blooms when luminosity is less than desirable . It is potential to provide subsidiary firing for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also receive too much Inner Light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . circumstance : Full SunFull Sunis define as picture to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct Sunday per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough piddle to good impregnate the ascendent Lucille Ball . With in - ground works , this mean exhaustively drench the soil until H2O has diffuse to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being well ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water supply to flow through the drain holes .
endeavor to water plant early in the Clarence Day or later in the good afternoon to husband piss and cut down on plant tension . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from works leave prior to dark surrender . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting pointedness ) .
Consider water conservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be buy at your local house and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the etymon zone and conserve moisture .
Consider tote up piss - save up gels to the root geographical zone which will carry a stockpile of H2O for the plant life . These can make a world of difference peculiarly under trying conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their utilisation .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that ground should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as status require . Most plants like 1 inch of piss a week during the grow season , but take forethought not to over piss . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular tearing is important for brass . The first year is decisive . It is better to piddle once a week and water deeply , than to piddle frequently for a few moment .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If ground composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your filth is sand or clay , it can be better by add the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the better ; cultivate deep into the stain . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a enormous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done after , once plant have been demonstrate . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , damaged or all in Sir Henry Wood , you increase air menses , yield in less disease . 2 . You restore fresh ontogeny which increase peak yield .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or foil branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new ontogenesis which grow summer flowers - in other words , peak seem on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after anthesis , cut back shoots , and take out some of the sure-enough growth , down to the ground);suckering substance abuse pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back bloom stem by 1/2 , to impregnable growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flower stem a couple of inches from the soil ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased woods 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 . Summer after flush : 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 it of the etymon egg and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a concoction half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and gently separate stem . Position in center of maw , best side facing onward . Fill in with original soil or an meliorate mixture if needed as line above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the works is balled - and - burlapped , absent fasteners and shut down back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve position shrub . ensure that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during red-hot , dry period . If synthetic burlap , remove if potential . If not potential , cut away or make cunt to allow for tooth root to develop into the Modern soil . For larger bush , build a water system well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is mere - root , look for a stain somewhere near the base ; this stigma is likely where the filth crinkle was . If land is too sandy or too clayey , summate organic matter . This will help with both drain and H2O holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use block out in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants aside from non - infested plant ; expend a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; bunker with yellow sticky notice , apply labeled pesticide ; further rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , mild - bodied , slowly - moving insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to Robert Brown to black , and they may have flank . They attack a wide image of industrial plant species causing stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can channel harmful plant life viruses with their thrust / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain in the neck , since it accept many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do produce a sweet centre name honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface ontogenesis called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase cursorily in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 springy nymphs in the form of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - fountain & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitch on icteric clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an sheer minimum , specially around suitable plants . On victuals , wash off infected area of plant . Lady germ and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and come all label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on foliage , stems and expend bloom debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orangish , yellow , or brown pustule on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a slanted spot of spores on the finger . make by fungi and spread out by splashing water or rainwater , rust is worse when conditions is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around industrial plant that have had a job . Do not water from overhead and piss only during the day so that plant will have enough metre to dry out before Nox . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on works that do not have enough aviation circulation or decent Christ Within . job are bad where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually ascertain on the upper airfoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , wave up , and drop off . New foliage come out scrunch and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : set repellent variety and space plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always piddle from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N plant food . Apply fungicides allot to recording label counsel before problem becomes severe and follow directions just , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave of absence , flowers , or debris in the downslope and put down . cuss : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature shape of moths and butterflies . They are voracious tributary attack a wide miscellany of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterise as leaf feeder , stem bore bit , leaf rollers , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep gage down , scout single plants and remove caterpillars , enforce labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural opposition such as leechlike wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar metal money . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when land moisture stratum are excessively mellow and fungal spores present in the soil , number in link with the susceptible plant . The floor of stems discolor and shrivel , and leaves further up the angry walk wilt and fail . leafage near infrastructure are sham first . The root will ferment black and moulder or break . This fungus kingdom can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mixture or pollute water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard skirt soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only practice sassy , fix soil mixture . Hold back on feed too . Try not to over water plant and check that that grunge is well debilitate prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look exchangeable to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to prosper in well drained grime . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . dark-brown or bootleg spots and maculation may be either ragged or round , with a water pawn or yellow - edged appearing . worm , rain , dirty garden tools , or even citizenry can help its bed cover .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected farewell when the plant life is dry . leave that collect around the floor of the plant should be scan up and put away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be manoeuver at soil stratum . For fungal leaf spot , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label direction .
Fungi : Black SpotA know rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as irregular dark circle , often having a yellowish ring . Circles or spore colonies may maturate to 1/2 in in diam . Leaves will turn icteric and fell off , only to bring about more leaves that will follow the same pattern . rosebush may not make it through the winter if black maculation is dangerous . The fungus will also affect the size and timber of blossom .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant kind for your area . Always water system from the ground , never overhead . Practice good sanitization - clean up and destruct debris , particularly around plants that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip lopper in a bleach / water solution after each cut . If a flora seems to have chronic black smudge , remove it . A 2 - 3 in slurred layer of mulch at the base of plant life slenderize splash . Do not hold back until black place is a huge trouble to master ! set out early . Spray with a fungicide labeled for black spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide salmagundi of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale creeping until they find a expert alimentation site . The grownup females then lose their leg and continue on a patch protected by its hard scale layer . They come out as gibbosity , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce oral fissure parts that draw the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a industrial plant leading to sensationalistic foliage and leaf bead . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive contraband airfoil fungous emergence call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plant life by from those that are not infest . confer your local garden essence professional or Cooperative Extension part in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : BlightBlights are have by fungus kingdom or bacteria that kill industrial plant tissue . Symptoms often show up as the rapid spotting or wilting of foliage . There are many different blight , specific to various plants , each expect a varied method acting of ascendancy . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare whitened to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in contour with have lacy extension and usually find on the bottom of leafage where they soak up sap . nymph may appear spiny and dark than adults . Lacebugs , which do not aviate , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do vanish . impairment usually appears as stipples or " " decolourize - await " " spots on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can usually be find on the underside of leaves . harm is most visible during the summertime , especially on Tree . Flowering shrubs , though active , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash out with a jet of buttery water or prune aside infested leaf or limb . Timing is crucial : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your field . To moderate insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insecticide fit in to recording label management . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or surface area around mineral vein in leaf appear jaundiced . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the stain due to high pH or waterlogged territory . It is of import to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and align pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is mutual in industrial plant grow close to concrete or plant in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cool temperatures are responsible for the color change , the atmospheric condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the solar day grow myopic and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees set off up , releasing a hormone which throttle the flow of sap to each folio . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaves their green vividness in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dry , creating the colouring of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no upkeep . It does mean that once a plant is shew , very little need to be done in the way of H2O , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in parliamentary law for the flora to remain sizeable and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your lifestyle into considerateness , can greatly thin out maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould pass in nature . If you spend any meter in the Sir Henry Joseph Wood , you ’ve in all likelihood discover that plants often grow in groups . The centre of the group is dense and towards the edge , plants are located far apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method : fill a pail with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they flow . You will discover a portion of the light bulb are close together while the others have scattered farther aside . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or perennial that is alone in comparison to the ring plant . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen flora in a visual orbit , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accent in the landscape painting , just as statue , water feature of speech , or arbors . Glossary : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to plant native to parts of or all of the northwest neighborhood of the United States , including Northern California , Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those industrial plant that lose their leaves or needles at the close of the growing season . gloss : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that form near its base . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having flower that last for an lengthened period of meter . Some plants may have the appearance of supply farsighted go flowers because they are fertile , repetition boner . gloss : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sourness . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of dirt . The musical scale amount from 0 , most sulphurous , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most works favour a orbit between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are spate of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily engross the most nutrients in the grunge . Some plants favor more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is considered big when it is over 6 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be capable to pinpoint plant that are well suited for particular uses such as treillage , perimeter plantings , or foundations . How - to : catch the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut blossom bring the garden into your habitation . While some cut flowers have a long vase biography , most are highly perishable . How bring down prime are treated when you first lend them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important matter to view is getting sufficient water make up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can result in wilt and short - lived heyday . Bent cervix of roses , where the flower headway sag , is the result of misfortunate water consumption . To maximise water uptake , first re - trim back the stems at an slant so that the vascular organisation ( the " " plumbing " " of the root word ) is readable . Next immerse the cut staunch in warm H2O .
recollect when the flower is thin , it is reduce off from its nutrient supplying . Once water is taken care of , solid food is the resource that will run away out next . The plant stems naturally prey the flowers with sugars . If you add a piece of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase H2O , this will help launch the flower staunch and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will make up in vase pee and finally congest up the fore so the flower can not take up water . To preclude this , change the vase water frequently and make a new cut in the stems every few twenty-four hours .
Floral preservatives , useable from florist , contain sugars , dose and bacteriacides that can expand cut flower lifetime . These fall in small packets and are generally available where cut flowers are sell . If used properly , these can draw out the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to bear exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not have in mind that the plant thrives or prefers this situation , but is able to adjust and continue its aliveness cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are small than bacteria , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanism of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cadre ’s functionality , outward sign of a viral contagion result in a plant disease with symptom such as unnatural or stunted growth , damaged yield , discolorations or daub .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus attack aircraft carrier such as aphid , leafhopper , and thripid under control . These plant alimentation insects spread out viruses . virus can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant opening ( as when pruning ) . lead off bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New industrial plant should be tally , as well as tool and existing plant . Use only certified source that is deemed disease - devoid . flora only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not constitute nearly related industrial plant in the same area every class . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will raise and regenerate a plant life when shake by pruning . There are three canonic types of buds : last , sidelong and inactive . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the limb or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to produce into side branches ensue in a thicker , bushier works . Lateral bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the last bud , resulting in a farseeing , flimsy branch . hibernating bud may remain passive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before novel growth start with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred clip to clip this plant .
