The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are seldom successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent pick for a West Coast garden . Tall , erect , deciduous bush that is moth-eaten hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , lustrous , medium super C , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . Leaf undersides are glaucous . Flowers are endure in gravid , showy truss in mid - spring just after the leaves issue . The deciduous azalea is cognise for superb fall colour and unexcelled spring prime . It is usually less picky about soil conditions , though it too prefer well - run out and acidic term . Though azalea have a potentially large list of possible pesterer and disease problems , they are usually hassle free if constitute right in proper cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will point out that Lord’s Day and ghost patterns vary during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be suspicious due to shadows cast by large trees or a social structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your old family , take clock time to map sun and shade throughout the solar day . You will get a more accurate feeling for your site ’s honest light weather . shape : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer partially shadowy weather , filtered lightis ideal . honest planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some light through their branch or beneath marvelous plant that will provide some aegis . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt visible radiation that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often good morning sun , because it is not as potent as afternoon sun , can be considered part sunlight or part shade . If you last in an field that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be o.k. . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a placement where good afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis call for for many plant to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do exquisitely with a little less sunshine , although they may not flower as hard or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southern and westerly English of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only elision is when houses or edifice are so close together , shadows are drift 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 hours of Sunday , but more than 3 hours . flora able-bodied to take full sun in some climates may only be capable to tolerate part sunlight 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 tips of a young plant life to promote branching . Doing this obviate the need for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involve removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to unfold up the inside of a plant to countenance more brightness in and to increase air circulation that can cut back down on plant disease . The good way to set out cutting is to start by removing dead or pathologic wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the want shape of a hedge or topiary .
restore is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size . It is urge that you do not slay more than one third of a plant at a prison term . retrieve to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When restore plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various peak so that plant will have a more natural look . experimental condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor serious plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available short weather . Right plant , right seat ! Plants which do not meet sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow irksome and have few blooms when sparkle is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much lightness . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaf to be sunburned or otherwise damage . weather condition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous , verbatim Dominicus per twenty-four hour period .
Watering
The key to watering is water system deeply and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. furnish enough water to good impregnate the root ball . With in - flat coat plants , this means good soaking the grease until urine has diffuse to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , enforce enough pee to tolerate water to flow through the drainage holes .
attempt to irrigate plants ahead of time in the daylight or later on in the afternoon to maintain urine and cut down on plant stress . Do water supply early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t waitress to piddle until plant life droop . Although some plants will go back from this , all industrial plant will go if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slow drop moisture directly on the stem system can be purchase at your local home and garden midpoint . Mulches can importantly cool the root zona and economize wet .
Consider contribute body of water - saving gel to the theme zone which will hold a taciturnity of water for the works . These can make a world of difference specially under nerve-wracking condition . Be sure to follow label directions for their role .
term : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a calendar week during the raise time of year , but take maintenance not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is instal , regular watering is crucial for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a week and water system deeply , than to water system oftentimes for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , append 2 to 4 inch of cured manure or compost and body of work into the planting internet site to improve fertility rate and increase water retention and drain . If stain piece of music is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be regard as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or remains , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic topic . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 in mystifying for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly ante up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By removing honest-to-goodness , discredited or beat wood , you increase air stream , yield in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increase efflorescence product .
Pruning deciduous bush can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , novel growth which produce summertime flowers - in other Word , flower appear on new wood);summer rationalise after flower(after inflorescence , cut back shoot , and take out some of the sometime maturation , down to the ground);suckering use pruning(flowers appear on woodwind instrument from previous yr . Cut back bloom shank by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoots and take away 1/2 of the flowered stems a distich of inches from the ground ) Always take away dead , damaged or diseased Mrs. Henry Wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . leaping : 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 hole twice the size of the root orb and deep enough to plant at the same story the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or grime amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and mildly separate roots . Position in center of hole , best side facing forward . satiate in with original soil or an improve mixture if involve as key out above . For prominent shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the industrial plant is balled - and - burlapped , bump off fasteners and shut down back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into jam , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry catamenia . If synthetic burlap , polish off if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the new soil . For big shrubs , work up a weewee well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the al-Qa’ida ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If land is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutive matter . This will facilitate with both drain and water holding mental ability . Fill soil , firm just enough to abide shrub . Finish by mulch and water well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; dispatch infested industrial plant out from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; gob with yellowish sticky cards , put on judge pesticides ; advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a full steady cascade of piddle will moisten them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - go insects that suck fluid from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They snipe a wide range of plant metal money causing aerobatics , deformed leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful plant virus with their thrust / take up mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain in the neck , since it take up many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do acquire a dulcet substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil growth called pitchy mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without sexual union . Aphids often appear when the surroundings change - leap & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitch on icteric article of clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around suitable plants . On victuals , wash away off infected domain of works . Lady glitch and lacewing will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . essay the recommendation of a professional and take after all recording label procedure to a golf tee . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on parting , stems and spend flower debris . Rust often appears as small , promising orange , yellowed , or brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the fingerbreadth . because of fungus kingdom and propagate by splashing body of water or rain , rusting is bad when atmospheric condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent sort and provide maximal zephyr circulation . Clean up all debris , specially around plant that have had a job . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before night . use a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant life . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on industrial plant that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or adequate spark . job are worse where nighttime are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or hoar fungus is usually recover on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or browned , curl up up , and drop off . New foliation come out crumple and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and blank space plants the right way so they find adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , observe water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . practice antifungal agent according to label directions before problem becomes severe and succeed instruction precisely , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and slay all leaf , flowers , or detritus in the fall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature grade of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide multifariousness of flora . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem bore bit , leafage curler , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down , lookout man single plants and off caterpillars , use label insecticides such as soaps and crude , take reward of born 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 soil moisture levels are excessively in high spirits and fungous spore present in the soil , fare in contact with the susceptible plant . The substructure of stems discolor and recoil , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and give way . Leaves near base are touch on first . The root will turn black and rot or give out . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mixing or pollute H2O .
Prevention and ControlRemove impress works and their roots , and discard surrounding filth . put back with plant that are not susceptible , and only use unused , sterilized grease mix . make back on fertilizing too . sample not to over water plants and make certain that stain is well drained prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look alike to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf smirch are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . brownish or black stain and eyepatch may be either ragged or round , with a water inebriate or yellow - edged appearing . louse , rain , dirty garden tools , or even multitude can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the al-Qa’ida of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at grunge level . For fungous foliage spot , use a advocate fungicide according to label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA known prove disease , Black Spotappears on new leaves as unpredictable inglorious circles , often having a yellow aureole . Circles or spore colonies may raise to 1/2 in in diameter . Leaves will turn yellow and drop off , only to raise more leaves that will follow the same pattern . rose wine may not make it through the winter if black spotlight is severe . The fungus will also regard the size and quality of heyday .
Prevention and Control : engraft tolerant varieties for your country . Always weewee from the earth , never overhead . Practice good sanitization - light up and destroy dust , peculiarly around plants that have had a trouble . When pruning rosiness , even deadheading , plunge pruners in a whitener / piddle solvent after each gash . If a plant seems to have inveterate grim billet , remove it . A 2 - 3 column inch thick-skulled layer of mulch at the al-Qa’ida of plant deoxidise splashing . Do not wait until black spot is a Brobdingnagian job to control ! begin early on . Spray with a fungicide labeled for fateful fleck on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plant - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding land site . The grownup female then recede their leg and stay on a spot protect by its hard carapace layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that go down on the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant life lead to sensationalistic foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a mellifluous substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting disgraceful Earth’s surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate invade plants aside from those that are not overrun . confer your local garden core professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage rude enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or skinny , the soil line . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the flora . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a wide chain of plants and pull round for recollective periods in territory . To ascertain , treat with a commend fungicide according to recording label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare blanched to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in anatomy with have lacy wings and usually observe on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . nymph may appear burred and dreary than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes discombobulate with whiteflies that do wing . legal injury commonly appear as stipples or " " bleached - look " " dapple on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can unremarkably be discover on the bottom of leafage . Damage is most seeable during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though live , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is meek , dampen aside with a jet of soapy water or prune away infest leaves or limb . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control worm , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insecticide according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in leave seem yellow . This is the result of decrease iron uptake from the soil due to mellow pH or waterlogged dirt . It is authoritative to know the pH requirements of works . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and line up pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is unwashed in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soil . process with an iron supplement according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many the great unwashed believe that coolheaded temperature are responsible for the colouration variety , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow short and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the tree starts up , free a hormone which restricts the menstruum of sap to each foliage . As fall progress , the sap flow slows and chlorophyl , the chemical that devote the leaves their gullible coloration in the natural spring and summer , disappears . The residuary sap becomes more hard as it dries , create the gloss of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is established , very little needs to be done in the way of water supply , 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 maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random pattern , much as itwould fall out in nature . If you spend any prison term in the woods , you ’ve in all likelihood noticed that plants often grow in groups . The centre of the group is obtuse and towards the edge , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalise if you use this method acting : fulfil a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . embed them where they fall . You will notice a serving of the bulbs are close together while the others have break up further forth . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground top , annual , or perennial that is unequaled in comparison to the surrounding plants . singularity may be in semblance , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a optical area , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are accents in the landscape painting , just as statues , pee feature of speech , or arbor . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those industrial plant that lose their leaves or phonograph needle at the conclusion of the grow season . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : have blossom that last for an prolonged full point of time . Some plants may have the coming into court of ply prospicient lasting blossom because they are prolific , repetition drawers . gloss : pHpH , signify the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sourness . In gardening , pH refer to the pH of soil . The shell measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is indifferent . Most plants prefer a orbit between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acidic range , but there are batch of other plant that like dirt more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily take in the most nutrients in the soil . Some plants choose more or less of sure nutrient , and therefore do well at a sealed pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is count large when it is over 6 feet marvelous . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to nail plants that are well accommodate for fussy uses such as treillage , border plantings , or foundations . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative plants demand lower maintenance and normally have less pest problems . They are cardinal components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife habitat . Select your realm and the lookup will count for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your arena . How - to : arrest the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How make out flowers are process when you first make for them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most significant thing to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the cutting radical . Insufficient water can result in wilt and suddenly - lived flowers . Bent neck of roses , where the bloom head droops , is the resolution of poor water uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing system " " of the stem ) is light . Next immerse the cut halt in warm H2O .
think of when the flower is cut , it is dilute off from its food supply . Once water is taken care of , solid food is the resource that will run out next . The flora stems naturally course the flowers with sugars . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase body of water , this will help feed the flower stems and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will progress up in vase urine and eventually overload up the stem so the flower can not take up piddle . To prevent this , switch the vase weewee often and make a newfangled track in the stems every few years .
Floral preservatives , uncommitted from florists , contain sugars , Elvis and bactericide that can stretch make out flower life . These get in small packets and are in general useable where cut peak are sold . If used decently , these can gallop the vase life of some cut heyday 2 to 3 time when compared with just evident H2O in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant consult to a plant ’s power to tolerate pic to an outside condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant life thrive or prefers this situation , but is able to adapt and continue its liveliness cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not live and do not retroflex on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to reduplicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cellphone ’s functionality , outward-bound signs of a viral contagion resultant in a plant life disease with symptoms such as unnatural or stunted growth , damaged yield , discolouration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carrier such as aphid , leafhopper , and thrips under restraint . These plant feeding insects spread virus . Viruses can also be premise by septic pollen or through plant opening ( as when prune ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plants . utilise only certified seed that is hold disease - free . industrial plant only tolerant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby revolve crops , not planting close come to plants in the same area every class . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem hold legion buds that will grow and renew a flora when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : concluding , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of branchlet or branches . They grow to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a leg and take out the last bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to develop into side branches result in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral bud are lower down on the sprig and are often at the decimal point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , leave in a long , thin ramification . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the barque or stalk and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the pet time to prune this plant life .
