The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivar are seldom successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . improbable , erect , deciduous shrub that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glistening , medium green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . folio undersides are glaucous . efflorescence are bear in great , showy trusses in mid - leaping just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall colour and unsurpassed spring flowers . It is ordinarily less particular about territory conditions , though it too prefers well - run out and acid conditions . Though azalea have a potentially big list of possible cuss and disease problem , they are usually trouble complimentary if found correctly in proper ethnic conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns modify during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by prominent trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your senior home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the daytime . You will get a more accurate feel for your land site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : permeate LightFor many industrial plant that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis nonesuch . practiced planting website are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that permit some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sunlight , because it is not as firm as afternoon sunlight , can be consider part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight vulnerability may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be find . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to take on their full potential . Many of these works will do OK with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . area on the southern and westerly sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when houses or building are so close-fitting together , shadow are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunshine on a cheery day . fond sun receives less than 6 hour of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants capable to take full sun in some climate may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climate . Know the culture of the plant before you purchase and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to raise branching . Doing this forfend the pauperization for more grievous pruning later on .
cutting involves take whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a flora to lease more lightness in and to increase air circulation that can abbreviate down on plant disease . The best way to begin cutting is to begin by removing bushed or diseased wood .
Shearing is level the Earth’s surface of a shrub using hand or galvanising shear . This is done to asseverate the desired shape of a hedging or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of onetime branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not polish off more than one third of a plant at a fourth dimension . Remember to remove ramification from the interior of the works as well as the outside . When rejuvenate flora with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various stature so that works will have a more innate look . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant life with the available loose stipulation . Right flora , veracious berth ! Plants which do not have sufficient light may become pale in gloss , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect works to produce slower and have fewer salad days when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant life with lamps . Plants can also receive too much spark . If a shade loving plant life is exposed to lineal Sunday , it may wilt and/or get folio to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . shape : Full SunFull Sunis defined as pic to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is H2O deeply and less oftentimes . When watering , piddle well , i.e. provide enough water system to good impregnate the root nut . With in - reason works , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being in force ) . With container grown plant life , go for enough urine to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
seek to water plants ahead of time in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and make out down on plant stress . Do piss early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leave-taking prior to night drop . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they hit the lasting wilting point ) .
view piss conservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop wet directly on the root organization can be purchased at your local home and garden middle . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and preserve moisture .
look at adding water - saving colloidal gel to the ancestor geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a mankind of difference especially under trying conditions . Be sealed to follow label focal point for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be go on evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions expect . Most plants like 1 inch of weewee a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two age after a plant life is installed , regular watering is crucial for formation . The first year is decisive . It is better to piss once a week and water deeply , than to pee frequently for a few hour .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting internet site to better fertility and increase weewee keeping and drainage . If grime composition is washy , a layer of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your grease is George Sand or corpse , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic thing . The more , the better ; do work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a marvelous amount of study now , but will greatly make up off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once works have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous inflorescence shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing older , damaged or bushed woodwind , you increase melodic phrase flow , grant in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate newfangled growth which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 chemical group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , morbid , damaged , or crossed branch , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produces summer flowers - in other wrangle , flowers come out on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old growing , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from premature year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flowered staunch a duet of inch from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
exercise : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . bound : 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 mess twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is piteous , dig hole out even wider and fill with a variety half original grunge and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and lightly disjoined roots . Position in center of gob , respectable side facing forrard . Fill in with original grime or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water system well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , withdraw fasteners and fold back the top of rude burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve put shrub . ensure that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water supply forth from rootball during hot , dry menses . If celluloid gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to arise into the unexampled stain . For enceinte shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is plain - ascendent , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this stain is potential where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutional matter . This will help with both drainage and urine holding capability . Fill soil , firm just enough to fend for shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible dominance : keep widow’s weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; murder infested plant by from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with jaundiced sticky cards , apply mark pesticides ; encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitical wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady exhibitor of water supply will lap them off the works . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from gullible to Brown University to black , and they may have wings . They assail a wide orbit of plant species do aerobatics , change form leaves and bud . They can channel harmful flora viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , in general , are merely a pain , since it have many of them to induce serious flora harm . However aphids do bring forth a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can chair to an unattractive black control surface growth call sooty clay sculpture .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the class of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & downfall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branch feed on lush tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the colour yellowness and will often hitchhike on scandalmongering clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an sheer lower limit , specially around suitable plants . On edibles , wash off infected region of plant . Lady microbe and lacewings will give on aphid in the garden . There are various products - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all recording label procedure to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare boniface specific and overwinter on leafage , stems and pass blossom dust . Rust often appears as small , undimmed orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of folio . If touched , it will give a colored spot of spores on the finger’s breadth . because of fungus kingdom and spread by splashing water or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and bring home the bacon maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plant that have had a job . Do not water from overhead and water only during the day so that plant will have enough time to dry out before night . lend oneself a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly find on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate igniter . Problems are bad where Night are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or grey fungus is unremarkably get hold on the upper surface of leaves or yield . leave will often turn yellow or brown , coil up , and dismiss off . New foliation emerges crinkled and misshapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plant by rights so they receive enough luminousness and line circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is preponderant for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . employ antifungal harmonise to recording label directions before job becomes severe and follow direction on the button , not miss any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and polish off all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . plague : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green shape of moths and butterflies . They are esurient bird feeder attacking a wide variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leafage feeders , stem turn borer , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , spotter individual plants and take away cat , apply mark insect powder such as soaps and oils , take advantage of innate opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden and apply Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar mintage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when ground wet degree are overly in high spirits and fungous spores present in the grease , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . leave near base are affected first . The roots will turn black and waste or break in . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized dirt mix or contaminate water supply .
Prevention and ControlRemove touch plants and their antecedent , and discard surrounding dirt . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use refreshing , sterilized grunge mix . Hold back on fertilize too . Try not to over water plants and ensure that soil is well drain prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to fly high in well drained soils . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or opprobrious spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - abut appearance . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even the great unwashed can help its cattle ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant life is juiceless . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be run down up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; piddle should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , use a urge fungicide harmonise to label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on vernal leave of absence as irregular black roundabout , often having a yellow halo . Circles or spore colonies may uprise to 1/2 inch in diameter . Leaves will turn chickenhearted and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will play along the same form . rose wine may not make it through the wintertime if black spot is severe . The fungus will also bear upon the size and timbre of flowers .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistive varieties for your area . Always water from the earth , never overhead . Practice good sanitation - clean up and put down rubble , especially around plants that have had a job . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip pruner in a bleach / water solution after each cut . If a plant life seems to have chronic black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 in thick layer of mulch at the base of plant life deoxidize splosh . Do not hold off until pitch-black smirch is a huge problem to see ! Start early . Spray with a antifungal agent labeled for black slur on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , related to mealy germ , that can be a problem on a wide smorgasbord of plant - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale crawl until they chance a good feeding site . The grownup females then turn a loss their legs and remain on a spot protected by its tough shell stratum . They seem as bumps , often on the humble side of leaves . They have piercing mouth part that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . scale of measurement can weaken a plant run to yellow foliation and folio drop . They also get a sweet heart called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth called jet cast .
Prevention and Control : Once set up they are tough to master . Isolate infested flora aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension post in your county for a legal passport regarding their ascendancy . Encourage innate enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesions on the root word at , or approximate , the dirt line . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the stem and leave in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . High temperature ( above 85 degree F , 29 degrees C ) favour the disease . The fungus assault a wide range of plant and live on for farsighted periods in soil . To manipulate , address with a recommend fungicide grant to label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare blanched to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy flank and commonly discover on the undersurface of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may come along barbed and saturnine than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confuse with whitefly that do vaporize . Damage ordinarily appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leaves . heavily , black excrement can usually be witness on the bottom of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , look light and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is balmy , dampen away with a jet of soapy water or prune aside infest leaf or limb . Timing is crucial : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insect , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insecticide according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave or arena around veins in leaves seem yellow . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the grease due to mellow pH or waterlogged territory . It is important to cognize the pH necessity of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plant growing near to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . regale with an iron supplementation according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people trust that cooler temperature are responsible for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days raise unretentive and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the tree diagram start out up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leafage . As drop progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that founder the leave their green colour in the outflow and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dry out , create the colors of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not intend no alimony . It does imply that once a plant is established , very little pauperism to be done in the style of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce sustenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to embed in a random pattern , much as itwould come about in nature . If you pass any time in the Wood , you ’ve likely discover that plant often grow in grouping . The center of the group is impenetrable and towards the border , plants are located far apart . Narcissus bulb are wanton to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill a bucket with electric-light bulb and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will find a destiny of the bulbs are closemouthed together while the others have spread out far away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or repeated that is alone in comparison to the surround plant . Uniqueness may be in colour , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a ocular domain , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are accents in the landscape , just as statue , water feature , or arbors . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that recede their leaves or phonograph needle at the end of the growing time of year . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having bloom that last for an extended period of time . Some works may have the appearance of providing long hold up flowers because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measuring rod of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of stain . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is indifferent . Most works prefer a ambit between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid 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 easy absorb the most nutrients in the soil . Some industrial plant prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : great ShrubA shrub is considered expectant when it is over 6 foot tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy look Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to pinpoint plants that are best fit for particular uses such as trellises , border plantings , or fundament . gloss : U. S. NativesNative plant call for lower maintenance and normally have less cuss problems . They are key component part in the xeriphytic landscape painting and backyard wildlife habitat . Select your realm and the search will await for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your sphere . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bestow the garden into your home . While some shortened flowers have a long vase life , most are extremely perishable . How cut flowers are care for when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important matter to consider is getting sufficient H2O taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can leave in droop and shortly - know flowers . Bent cervix of pink wine , where the heyday straits droops , is the result of pathetic water intake . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the theme ) is clear . Next immerse the undercut halt in ardent body of water .
Remember when the flower is geld , it is edit out off from its food supply . Once water supply is taken care of , nutrient is the resource that will run out next . The plants stem course fertilize the flowers with sugars . If you impart a morsel of lettuce ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help fee the flower stems and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will ramp up up in vase water and eventually clog up the root so the flower can not take up water supply . To prevent this , change the vase water ofttimes and make a new cut in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can extend turn out flower living . These come in small parcel and are more often than not usable where slash flower are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life sentence of some slashed flower 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refer to a flora ’s power to tolerate picture to an extraneous condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant expand or prefer this situation , but is able-bodied to conform and uphold its life hertz . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are small than bacterium , are not live and do not replicate on their own . They must trust on the cellular mechanism of their host to replicate . Because this greatly interrupt the prison cell ’s functionality , outward-bound signboard of a viral transmission result in a works disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted growth , damage fruit , discolorations or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrips under ascendancy . These works feeding insects pass around viruses . Viruses can also be present by infected pollen or through industrial plant gap ( as when prune ) . start bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be check out , as well as tools and existing plants . Use only certify seminal fluid that is deemed disease - free . works only resistive varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotate crops , not planting close relate plants in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems hold numerous buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : last , lateral and inactive . Terminal buds are at the baksheesh of branchlet or branches . They originate to make the outgrowth or twig longer . In some compositor’s case they may give rise to a flower . If you ignore the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to grow into side branches result in a thicker , bushier plant life . sidelong buds are lower down on the branchlet and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the last bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . hibernating buds may remain inactive in the bark or stem turn and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to trim this plant life .
