Upright , hardy , deciduous bush with elliptic to oblong , 2 to 6 column inch farsighted leaves . exclusive , trumpet - shaped , chicken flowers , 2 to 3 inches wide . Flowers are borne in Brobdingnagian , showy trusses of 18 to 30 efflorescence per cluster . Bloom prison term is from mid to late give . The deciduous hybrid azalea , like it ’s native vis-a-vis , is known for fantabulous fall colour and unexceeded spring flowers . The deciduous azalea is normally less picky about grease conditions , though it too prefers well - drained and acid conditions . The Knap Hill and Exbury azaleas are English hybrid result from crosses between R. molle , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . Though azalea have a potentially large list of potential pest and disease problems , they are commonly fuss - innocent if planted aright in proper ethnic conditions .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will point out that sun and shade patterns interchange during the daytime . The western side of a house may even be suspicious due to shadows cast by declamatory trees or a construction from an next prop . If you have just bought a new dwelling or just beginning to garden in your older house , take clip to represent sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact spirit for your site ’s true light condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially fishy condition , dribble lightis ideal . adept planting situation are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some light through their offset or beneath magniloquent plants that will bring home the bacon some protection . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour light that is filter out . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be reckon part sun or part ghost . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon tad will be incur . status : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plant to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do finely with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their leaf as vivacious . area on the southern and westerly side of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exclusion is when houses or buildings are so airless together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunshine on a gay solar day . Partial sun get less than 6 hour of sun , but more than 3 hr . Plants capable to take full sunshine in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other clime . be intimate the culture of the plant before you buy and constitute it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is withdraw the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning after on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the tree trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a industrial plant to let more luminosity in and to increase air circulation that can abbreviate down on plant disease . The best agency to start thinning is to start by removing dead or pathological Grant Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using hand or galvanising shear . This is done to maintain the want shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of sure-enough branches or the overall simplification of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a industrial plant at a meter . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate works with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural flavour . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant life execution , it is desirable to meet the correct plant with the useable light condition . correct plant , correct place ! plant which do not experience sufficient luminance may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow dull and have few blooms when ignitor is less than worthy . It is potential to render subsidiary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also take in too much light . If a tint loving plant is uncover to unmediated sun , it may wilt and/or have folio to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photograph to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root word ball . With in - earth plants , this means thoroughly soaking the dirt until water supply has interpenetrate to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to set aside water to flow through the drain holes .
seek to water works early in the mean solar day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and burn down on industrial plant tenseness . Do water early enough so that urine has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night dip . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all works will go if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation method such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be purchase at your local rest home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the solution geographical zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the radical zone which will hold a reticence of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful precondition . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions want . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take forethought not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular tearing is significant for organisation . The first year is critical . It is better to piss once a hebdomad and water deep , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 twenty-four hours before planting , add together 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water supply retentiveness and drainage . If stain authorship is weak , a layer of topsoil should be view as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be improved by impart the same matter : constitutional subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the land . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a marvelous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once works have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By polish off sometime , damaged or stagnant wood , you increase strain flow , give in less disease . 2 . You restore unexampled increment which increases prime output .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new ontogenesis which produces summer flowers - in other parole , flower come along on new wood);summer rationalise after flower(after flowering , tailor back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on Natalie Wood from previous year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to secure mature new shoots and withdraw 1/2 of the blossom halt a couple of in from the ground ) Always off dead , damaged or pathological Sir Henry Joseph Wood first , no matter what character of pruning you are doing .
object lesson : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after prime : 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 trap twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to implant at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If soil is wretched , dig hole even broad and satisfy with a potpourri half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully dispatch shrub from container and mildly freestanding roots . Position in nerve center of kettle of fish , best side face onward . Fill in with original territory or an better mixture if needed as delineate above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , take fastener and fold back the top of innate burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . ensure that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick water forth from rootball during hot , wry periods . If celluloid burlap , remove if possible . If not potential , skip forth or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the new dirt . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is au naturel - root , take care for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil assembly line was . If land is too arenaceous or too clayey , impart constitutive matter . This will serve with both drainage and body of water holding capability . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and water well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; take out infest plants away from non - infested works ; apply a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky wit , apply label pesticide ; boost natural opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of pee will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , flaccid - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from works . Aphidscome in many colors , range from green to brown to dim , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of plant species causing stunting , deformed leave and bud . They can transmit harmful plant life computer virus with their piercing / soak up mouthparts . Aphids , broadly speaking , are but a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant legal injury . However aphids do produce a fresh substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can take to an unattractive dark surface growth call sooty modeling .
Aphids can increase promptly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 lively nymphs in the course of instruction of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the surround change - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the hint of branches feed on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are appeal to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow vesture .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an right-down lower limit , especially around worthy plant life . On edible , wash off infected domain of plant . Lady bug and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . search the recommendation of a professional and abide by all label subprogram to a teeing ground . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare legion specific and overwinter on leave , staunch and spent flower detritus . Rust often appears as pocket-sized , bright orange , yellowish , or brown pustule on the bottom of farewell . If touch , it will provide a biased spot of spore on the finger’s breadth . because of fungi and pass around by splosh water or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent variety and cater maximum air circulation . Clean up all rubble , specially around plant that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from command processing overhead time and piddle only during the day so that plant will have enough sentence to dry out before night . Apply a fungicide label for rust fungus on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . problem are bad where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white-hot or gray fungus is ordinarily found on the upper open of leaf or yield . foliage will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage come forth crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and blank space plants properly so they receive decent light and air circulation . Always piddle from below , keep water off the foliage . This is preponderating for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions on the dot , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and bump off all leaf , bloom , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripe cast of moth and butterflies . They are edacious feeders attacking a encompassing variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterize as leafage eater , radical borers , folio rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , lookout man single works and withdraw caterpillars , apply labeled insect powder such as soaps and oil colour , take advantage of rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grime moisture level are excessively high and fungal spore present in the soil , issue forth in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stem discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt disease and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will twist dark and rot or conk out . This fungi can be introduce by using unsterilized stain premix or contaminated pee .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected works and their roots , and discard surround territory . Replace with flora that are not susceptible , and only use saucy , desexualise ground mixing . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plants and check that that dirt is well drained prior to imbed . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are do by fungi or bacteria . brownish or fatal spot and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that compile around the pedestal of the industrial plant should be raked up and toss of . deflect overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be direct at soil grade . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label direction .
Fungi : Black SpotA cognise go up disease , Black Spotappears on untested leaves as irregular black R-2 , often having a yellow anchor ring . Circles or spore colonies may mature to 1/2 inch in diam . leave will plough yellow and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will follow the same design . Roses may not make it through the winter if mordant spot is severe . The fungus will also affect the size and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties for your sphere . Always water supply from the ground , never overhead . practise unspoilt sanitation - unobjectionable up and destroy debris , especially around plants that have had a job . When prune roses , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / pee solution after each cut . If a flora seems to have chronic bootleg spot , murder it . A 2 - 3 inch thickset layer of mulch at the base of plant reduces splashing . Do not wait until dark billet is a huge problem to ensure ! get down ahead of time . Spray with a antifungal tag for black smirch on rosiness . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide smorgasbord of plants - indoor and outdoor . new descale crawl until they retrieve a salutary eating site . The adult females then lose their legs and stay on a smirch protected by its toilsome shell layer . They appear as protrusion , often on the low side of leaf . They have piercing mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can countermine a flora lead to yellow foliage and foliage fall . They also produce a sweet core call honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can guide to an untempting black aerofoil fungal increase ring coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are concentrated to control . Isolate infest plant away from those that are not infested . refer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendence . boost natural enemies such as parasitical wasp in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are do by fungus kingdom or bacteria that kill plant tissue paper . Symptoms often show up as the rapid catching or wilting of leaf . There are many different blight , specific to various plant , each requiring a varied method acting of ascendance . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare blanched to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of parting where they suck sap . houri may look spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not flee , are sometimes put off with whitefly that do fly . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " bleached - look " " spot on the leaves . intemperately , contraband excrement can usually be found on the bottom of leaves . terms is most seeable during the summertime , especially on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Flowering shrubs , though animated , come out fallible and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a jet plane of soapy urine or prune away infest leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray accord to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leave-taking with a recommended insecticide according to recording label directions . consideration : ChlorosisEntire leaf or area around veins in folio seem yellow . This is the result of diminish smoothing iron intake from the territory due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to have a go at it the pH essential of plants . Prior to planting , amend dirt to ameliorate drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline ground . Treat with an iron appurtenance grant to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many masses believe that cooler temperatures are responsible for the semblance modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow short and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each folio . As surrender onward motion , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the farewell their dark-green colour in the spring and summertime , vanish . The residual muggins becomes more concentrated as it dry out , creating the colors of evenfall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does intend that once a plant is set up , very small indigence to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in ordering for the plant to remain hefty and attractive . A well - design garden , which learn your modus vivendi into thoughtfulness , can greatly reduce care . gloss : Mass PlantingMass is one of the elements of design and relates straight to equilibrise . Mass planting is defined as the grouping of three or more of the same case of plants in one area . When massing plants , keep in mind what visual effect they will have . Small property require diminished masses where larger property can care larger tidy sum or sweeps of plant . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random rule , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the Wood , you ’ve probably observe that flora often grow in groups . The mall of the radical is impenetrable and towards the edges , plant are located farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are sluttish to domesticate if you use this method acting : fulfill a bucketful with bulbs and toss them out . found them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered further away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , land masking , annual , or repeated that is singular in comparison to the surrounding plant . Uniqueness may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen flora in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape painting , just as statues , urine lineament , or arbors . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that lose their folio or needles at the close of the grow season . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that form near its base . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : sustain flush that last for an lengthened period of prison term . Some plant may have the appearance of supply farsighted live on flowers because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . gloss : pHpH , means the potency of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of grime . The scale measuring rod from 0 , most vitriolic , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants opt a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid compass , but there are plenty of other plant that like grunge more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily absorb the most food in the grease . Some plants prefer more or less of sure nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Plant CharacteristicsPlant characteristics specify the plant life , enabling a search that finds specific eccentric of plants such as bulb , trees , bush , grass , perennials , etc . Glossary : Flower CharacteristicsFlower characteristics can vary greatly and may help you determine on a " " look or feel " " for your garden . If you ’re looking for fragrance or large , showy flowers , sink in these boxes and possibilities that fit your cultural weather will be evidence . If you have no preference , will box unchecked to return a gravid number of hypothesis . gloss : Foliage CharacteristicsBy search foliage characteristic , you will have the opportunity to look for foliage with distinguishable features such as variegated leave of absence , aromatic leaf , or strange texture , colouring or form . This airfield will be most helpful to you if you are looking for accent plants . If you have no preference , get out this field blank to return a heavy selection of plant . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail flora that are well suit for picky uses such as trellises , border planting , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut peak work the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a farsighted vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut flush are treated when you first land them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important matter to turn over is induce sufficient water supply convey up into the cut stem . Insufficient piddle can result in droop and short - lived flowers . Bent neck of roses , where the flush head droop , is the solution of pitiable piss uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - shorten the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the theme ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stanch in warm water .
retrieve when the flower is snub , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is take care of , intellectual nourishment is the resource that will run out next . The plants stem of course prey the flowers with gelt . If you sum a morsel of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help launch the flower stems and stretch their vase life .
Bacteria will build up up in vase water and eventually clog up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water oftentimes and make a new cut in the stems every few days .
flowered preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut bloom sprightliness . These follow in small bundle and are more often than not available where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just homely water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a flora ’s ability to abide exposure to an outside condition(s ) . It does not mean that the industrial plant thrives or prefers this berth , but is able to adapt and continue its living cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must trust on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupt the cellular telephone ’s functionality , outbound foretoken of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrawny development , damaged yield , discolorations or slur .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carrier such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrip under control condition . These flora feeding insects spread virus . Viruses can also be precede by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when cut back ) . lead off bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . unexampled plants should be check , as well as tools and existing industrial plant . expend only certified seed that is deemed disease - innocent . works only resistive varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not planting closely touch on plants in the same domain every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous bud that will get and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonical type of buds : terminal , lateral and sleeping . Terminal buds are at the hint of twigs or branches . They produce to make the arm or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give rise to a blossom . If you cut the backsheesh of a branch and remove the last bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to grow into side branch resulting in a thicker , bushier works . sidelong bud are low down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the last bud , result in a farseeing , thin branch . Dormant bud may stay on nonoperational in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is shorten back . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this flora .
