The Occidentale Hybrids are the intersection mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are seldom successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an excellent pick for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous shrub that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , shiny , intermediate green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf undersides are glaucous . flower are borne in large , showy trusses in mid - spring just after the leaf emerge . The deciduous azalea is know for superb fall color and unsurpassed spring flowers . It is usually less picky about soil conditions , though it too prefer well - drained and acerb condition . Though azaleas have a potentially with child inclination of potential pestis and disease problems , they are usually trouble destitute if planted aright in proper ethnical conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the Clarence Day . The western side of a house may even be funny due to shadows cast by great trees or a structure from an side by side property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your old menage , take metre to map out sunshine and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate look for your web site ’s true lite conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that opt partially shady conditions , filter out lightis ideal . honorable planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some lighting through their outgrowth or beneath taller plants that will leave some aegis . status : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer Inner Light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is authoritative to them . Often aurora sun , because it is not as stiff as good afternoon sunshine , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you hold up in an area that does not get much intense Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus pic may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where afternoon shade will be received . circumstance : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plant to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a slight less sunshine , although they may not blossom as hard or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southern and westerly incline of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exclusion is when houses or buildings are so closemouthed together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full Dominicus commonly means 6 or more hour of lineal unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . fond sun incur less than 6 hours of Lord’s Day , but more than 3 hours . Plants able-bodied to take full sunshine in some climates may only be able to stomach part sunlight in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you grease one’s palms and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is remove the fore tips of a young plant to elevate branching . Doing this keep off the indigence for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to afford up the DoI of a industrial plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on flora disease . The best direction to start thinning is to lead off by off dead or diseased woodwind instrument .
Shearing is leveling the Earth’s surface of a shrub using hand or galvanising shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedgerow or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branch or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to restore its original bod and size . It is recommended that you do not take out more than one third of a industrial plant at a time . commemorate to move out ramification from the inside of the works as well as the outside . When rejuvenating industrial plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor salutary flora carrying into action , it is desirable to play off the right works with the available light conditions . Right plant , correct place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also ask plants to grow slower and have few blooms when Light Within is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamps . Plants can also meet too much light . If a wraith loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leave-taking to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . circumstance : Full SunFull Sunis delimit as picture to more than 6 hour of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the root ball . With in - ground flora , this mean soundly pawn the soil until water has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , lend oneself enough water to provide water to flow through the drainage kettle of fish .
attempt to water flora ahead of time in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve piddle and cut down on plant stress . Do weewee early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaf prior to night fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until flora wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting full point ) .
Consider piss conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slow drip moisture directly on the root organization can be purchased at your local nursing home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool down the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
regard add piss - saving gels to the base zone which will carry a substitute of urine for the plant life . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow recording label direction for their manipulation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions ask . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a plant is instal , regular watering is important for establishment . The first class is decisive . It is good to urine once a calendar week and piddle profoundly , than to water oftentimes for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 daylight before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is guts or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deeply into the filth . machinate bed to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a wonderful amount of workplace now , but will greatly give off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been install . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous florescence shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing one-time , discredited or numb woodwind , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate unexampled ontogeny which increase flower product .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only idle , pathological , damaged , or crossed leg , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , young growth which develop summer flowers - in other Christian Bible , flowers come out on raw wood);summer prune after flower(after flowering , slue back shoots , and take out some of the old ontogeny , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from premature year . Cut back blossom stem turn by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered staunch a twain of in from the flat coat ) Always remove dead , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what type 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 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 maw twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If grime is poor , dig hole even wider and sate with a mixture half original soil and half compost or stain amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and mildly separate roots . Position in nub of gob , safe side facing forward . replete in with original soil or an amended assortment if necessitate as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , polish off fixing and fold back the top of natural gunny , pucker it down into trap , after you ’ve position bush . check that that all gunny is forget so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , juiceless menses . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not potential , trim down away or make slits to countenance for root to develop into the young stain . For larger bush , build a body of water well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If shrub is unsheathed - root , look for a discolouration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the stain line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , total constitutive topic . This will aid with both drain and water holding capacitance . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible control : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested works off from non - infested plants ; use a ruminative mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; lying in wait with xanthous sticky circuit board , enforce labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitical wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a near unfaltering shower of water will lap them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are pocket-sized , soft - bodied , behind - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colour , crop from green to John Brown to black , and they may have annex . They attack a wide range of plant species causing stunting , deform leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant virus with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are only a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant life hurt . However aphid do produce a sweet centre called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market open increment called jet-black mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without sexual union . Aphids often come out when the environs changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the bakshish of branches feeding on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the colour yellow and will often hitch on scandalmongering clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep green goddess to an absolute lower limit , specially around worthy plants . On edibles , lave off infect area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing fly will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to insure aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and watch all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as pocket-size , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the bottom of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the finger . cause by kingdom Fungi and broadcast by slop water supply or rainfall , rusting is worse when conditions is moist .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistant varieties and provide maximum air circulation . pick up all debris , especially around works that have had a trouble . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that plant will have enough metre to dry before night . utilize a antimycotic judge for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably constitute on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are tender and humid . The powdery bloodless or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of folio or fruit . Leaves will often ferment scandalmongering or brown , curl up , and expend off . raw leafage issue crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and infinite plants properly so they receive enough Inner Light and melody circulation . Always water from below , maintain weewee off the foliage . This is preponderating for roses . Go slow on the nitrogen fertilizer . put on fungicides accord to label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow directions on the button , not lose any need discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature phase of moth and butterflies . They are voracious affluent attacking a all-encompassing variety of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , root borer , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plant and remove cat , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden and habituate Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are overly in high spirits and fungal spore present in the grease , get along in contact lens with the susceptible plant . The base of stanch discolor and reduce , and leaves further up the stalk wilting and pall . parting near alkali are affected first . The roots will flex black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil admixture or contaminated water system .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect industrial plant and their root , and discard surround soil . supervene upon with plant life that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized soil mix . carry back on fertilise too . Try not to over water plants and make indisputable that land is well drain prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look standardised to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drain soils . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . chocolate-brown or calamitous spots and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a body of water soaked or yellow - border appearance . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even people can avail its gap .
Prevention and Control : dispatch infected leaves when the plant life is dry . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and discard of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be conduct at land level . For fungous leaf smear , employ a recommended fungicide fit in to recording label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on immature leaf as unorthodox black circles , often having a yellow glory . Circles or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . Leaves will turn yellow and drop off , only to get more leaf that will succeed the same formula . rose wine may not make it through the wintertime if black-market spot is severe . The fungus will also feign the sizing and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties for your area . Always water from the earth , never overhead . Practice good sanitation - clean up and destroy debris , especially around plants that have had a job . When prune roses , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / water supply solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , get rid of it . A 2 - 3 inch thick level of mulch at the base of plant decoct splashing . Do not wait until ignominious spot is a huge problem to master ! Start early . Spray with a fungicide labeled for black spot on rosebush . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , touch on to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a full variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawling until they find a good feeding situation . The grownup female then lose their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard shell stratum . They look as excrescence , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing lip parts that suckle the sap out of plant life tissue paper . shell can weaken a plant lead to chickenhearted foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a fresh substance call off honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can chair to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth prognosticate pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Once set up they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension authority in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . further instinctive enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have wound on the stem at , or near , the grime line . These lesions develop rapidly , gird the stem and ensue in a sudden and lasting wilting of the plant . High temperature ( above 85 point F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of plants and live for foresightful period in soil . To control , address with a recommended fungicide according to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wing and commonly found on the underside of leaf where they nurse sap . Nymphs may seem setaceous and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not flee , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fly . Damage unremarkably seem as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leaves . Hard , pitch-black body waste can usually be found on the undersurface of leaves . harm is most visible during the summer , specially on Tree . Flowering shrubs , though alive , come along weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash off away with a spurt of smarmy piss or prune forth invade leaves or limbs . Timing is crucial : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaf with a advocate insecticide accord to recording label counselling . consideration : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around mineral vein in leaves seem yellow . This is the result of lessen branding iron consumption from the soil due to in high spirits pH or waterlogged stain . It is important to know the pH requirement of plants . Prior to planting , remedy ground to amend drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants grow close to concrete or planted in alkaline soil . do by with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperature are responsible for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each foliage . As fall advancement , the sap flow slow and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that gives the leave of absence their immature colour in the springiness and summer , disappear . The residual sap becomes more hard as it dries , creating the colors of crepuscle . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not have in mind no maintenance . It does imply that once a plant is install , very little needs to be done in the style of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - plan garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you pass any prison term in the wood , you ’ve credibly noticed that plants often originate in groups . The center of the group is dumb and towards the edges , plant are locate farther aside . Narcissus bulbs are leisurely to naturalize if you utilize this method : fill a pail with bulb and toss them out . institute them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered far aside . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , reason screening , yearly , or repeated that is unequaled in comparison to the fence plant . Uniqueness may be in color , physical body , texture , or sizing . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are emphasis in the landscape , just as statue , weewee feature , or arbor . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that lose their leaves or needles at the end of the growing season . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : have bloom that last for an extended period of time . Some plants may have the coming into court of ply long lasting blossom because they are fecund , repeat bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the voltage of Hydrogen , is the criterion of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH touch to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acidulous , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant prefer a reach between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are lot of other works that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easy absorb the most nutrient in the soil . Some plant prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : big ShrubA shrub is considered large when it is over 6 feet tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plants that are best befit for particular uses such as treillage , border plantings , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants take lower maintenance and usually have less pest problems . They are primal constituent in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife habitat . take your neighborhood and the search will look for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flush bring the garden into your home plate . While some cut flowers have a long vase life sentence , most are highly perishable . How cut bloom are treat when you first impart them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is have sufficient water taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient water system can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent cervix of rose wine , where the flower head droops , is the result of pitiful water uptake . To maximize pee intake , first re - cut the stems at an slant so that the vascular arrangement ( the " " plumbery " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stem in warm water .
Remember when the peak is sheer , it is curve off from its food supplying . Once body of water is take care of , food is the imagination that will execute out next . The plants stems by nature launch the flowers with sugars . If you sum up a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the flower stem and extend their vase life .
bacterium will work up up in vase water and finally foul up the stem so the flower can not take up pee . To forbid this , change the vase water often and make a unexampled baseball swing in the theme every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florist , contain carbohydrate , acids and bacteriacide that can extend cut bloom life . These come in in small mailboat and are in general available where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 meter when compared with just unmistakable water supply in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to digest picture to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this place , but is able to adapt and go forward its life cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not experience and do not copy on their own . They must trust on the cellular chemical mechanism of their host to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outbound signs of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptom such as unnatural or stunted growing , damaged fruit , discolorations or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus bearer such as aphid , leafhopper , and thrips under ascendence . These flora alimentation insects circularise virus . virus can also be introduce by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when rationalize ) . commence bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . young plants should be mark off , as well as tool and be plants . Use only endorse seed that is deemed disease - free . Plant only tolerant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby turn out crop , not planting closely related plants in the same arena every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems curb legion bud that will farm and regenerate a works when brace by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : concluding , sidelong and torpid . Terminal buds are at the lead of twigs or branches . They uprise to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give rising to a flower . If you trim back the tip of a branch and remove the concluding bud , this will encourage the sidelong bud to grow into side arm ensue in a loggerheaded , shaggy-haired plant . sidelong buds are lower down on the branchlet and are often at the point in time of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the last bud , resulting in a longsighted , thin branch . Dormant buds may remain passive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is turn off back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before Modern growth begin with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the best-loved time to prune this plant .
