The Knap Hill and Exbury azalea are English hybrids resulting from hybrid between R. Schinus molle , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . Upright , hardy , deciduous bush with elliptic to oblong , 2 to 6 inch long leaves . Flowers are borne in huge , showy truss of 18 to 30 blooms per cluster . Bloom time is from mid to late spring . The deciduous cross azalea , like its aboriginal counterpart , is know for excellent fall color and unsurpassed spring flowers . The deciduous azalea is usually less picky about soil conditions , though it too prefers well - debilitate and vitriolic conditions . Though azalea have a potentially big tilt of potential pestilence and disease problems , they are unremarkably trouble free if imbed correctly in proper cultural condition .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will discover that sun and shade patterns change during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . The westerly side of a planetary house may even be louche due to shadows vagabond by turgid trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new habitation or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map sunlight and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate tone for your situation ’s true clear conditions . condition : dribble LightFor many plants that prefer partly shady experimental condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting situation are under a mid to expectant sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some luminousness through their outgrowth or beneath taller plants that will provide some protective covering . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt luminousness that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is authoritative to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part Lord’s Day or part subtlety . If you live in an expanse that does not get much acute sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photograph may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full electric potential . Many of these plant life will do finely with a little less sunshine , although they may not flower as heavy or their leafage as vibrant . domain on the southerly and westerly English of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so near together , shadow are hurl from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny solar day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hour of sunshine , but more than 3 hour . plant able to take full sun in some clime may only be capable to tolerate part Lord’s Day in other clime . Know the acculturation of the plant before you corrupt and embed it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is murder the shank tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this avoid the need for more stark pruning later on .
Thinning demand hit whole ramification back to the body . This may be done to open up up the interior of a plant to have more visible radiation in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best mode to begin thinning is to begin by polish off dead or morbid woodwind instrument .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using manus or electric shear . This is done to keep the trust physical body of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of onetime branch or the overall reduction of the size of it of a bush to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not off more than one third of a flora at a time . call up to take away branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various height so that plant will have a more lifelike flavour . weather : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right works , right position ! works which do not receive sufficient spark may become pallid in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out visual aspect . Also have a bun in the oven plants to grow slow and have few blooming when light is less than worthy . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a ghost sleep together industrial plant is exposed to verbatim Sunday , it may droop and/or do leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis limit as vulnerability to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sun per sidereal day .
Watering
The Florida key to tearing is water profoundly and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. cater enough weewee to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this mean thoroughly soaking the soil until H2O has fathom to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being near ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow body of water to flow through the drain mess .
attempt to water plants early in the sidereal day or later in the good afternoon to husband piddle and switch off down on flora stress . Do pee ahead of time enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to Nox dusk . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until flora droop . Although some industrial plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they gain the permanent wilting point ) .
take water conservation method acting such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture flat on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden centre of attention . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and economise moisture .
Consider adding water - save gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a human race of conflict especially under stressful conditions . Be sealed to pursue recording label directions for their use .
experimental condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 in of weewee a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lacrimation is of import for administration . The first year is critical . It is better to urine once a week and water deep , than to water frequently for a few moment .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be view as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be better by adding the same thing : organic issue . The more , the better ; work deep into the ground . Prepare beds to an 18 inch bass for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly give off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing previous , damaged or dead Grant Wood , you increase air flowing , yielding in less disease . 2 . You regenerate new emergence which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrub can be divide into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only all in , diseased , damaged , or cross branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which bring out summer flowers - in other words , efflorescence appear on novel wood);summer prune after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering drug abuse pruning(flowers appear on woods from previous year . Cut back flowered prow by 1/2 , to unattackable mature new shoot and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always murder dead , damaged or morbid wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : 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 cakehole twice the sizing of the root musket ball and deep enough to plant at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even panoptic and fulfil with a intermixture half original stain and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and gently freestanding roots . Position in meat of hollow , good side face forward . Fill in with original dirt or an amended assortment if need as described above . For larger shrubs , progress a piddle well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , take away fasteners and fold back the top of innate burlap , tucking it down into yap , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all gunny is bury so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during spicy , wry period . If celluloid gunny , take if potential . If not potential , trim down by or make slits to leave for solution to develop into the new stain . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is au naturel - source , look for a discoloration somewhere near the groundwork ; this mark is potential where the soil line was . If ground is too arenaceous or too clayey , add constitutional affair . This will aid with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill soil , tauten just enough to bear out shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible control : keep weeds down ; use riddle in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants by from non - infested plants ; utilise a ruminative mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow embarrassing plug-in , apply labeled pesticides ; further natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a practiced steady shower of water will wash away them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , piano - bodied , tardily - travel insects that suck fluids from industrial plant . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide reach of plant species make stunting , deformed leafage and bud . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / suck mouthparts . Aphids , broadly , are but a pain , since it takes many of them to cause serious industrial plant legal injury . However aphids do produce a odorous content call honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can head to an unattractive black surface growth called pitchy mould .
Aphids can increase rapidly in number and each female can produce up to 250 alive nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment deepen - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of arm feeding on lush tissue . Aphids are draw in to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on xanthous clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On comestible , wash off taint area of plant . Lady microbe and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to ascertain aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave-taking , stanch and drop flower dust . Rust often seem as diminished , promising orange , icteric , or brown pustules on the underside of leave of absence . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the finger . triggered by fungus kingdom and spread by splashing water or rain , rust is forged when conditions is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and provide maximum line circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the day so that plant will have enough clock time to dry before dark . Apply a antifungal labeled for rusting on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent lightness . problem are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey-haired fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . farewell will often deform yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant form and space plant life properly so they take in adequate luminosity and air circulation . Always body of water from below , keep water off the foliation . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before trouble becomes wicked and follow counselling exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and withdraw all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and demolish . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterfly stroke . They are ravening feeders attack a wide variety of plant life . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as folio feeder , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentinel individual industrial plant and remove caterpillars , implement labeled insecticide such as soaps and vegetable oil , take reward of instinctive enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden and utilize Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grease moisture levels are excessively gamey and fungous spores present in the territory , number in contact with the susceptible industrial plant . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt disease and die . farewell near groundwork are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or pollute H2O .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant life and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . supervene upon with plants that are not susceptible , and only use sassy , sterilized filth mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . stress not to over water plants and make indisputable that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look exchangeable to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soil . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf musca volitans are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a piss soaked or yellow - march appearance . Insects , rainfall , foul garden tools , or even masses can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave-taking when the works is dry . foliage that collect around the al-Qaida of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . stave off overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be target at territory grade . For fungous foliage spots , apply a commend fungicide accord to recording label directions .
kingdom Fungi : Black SpotA bonk uprise disease , Black Spotappears on untested leaves as irregular disastrous circle , often have a yellow nimbus . circle or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 inch in diam . farewell will turn yellow and leave out off , only to produce more leaves that will comply the same pattern . pink wine may not make it through the winter if black spot is severe . The fungus will also affect the size and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties for your area . Always water supply from the ground , never overhead . Practice good sanitation - clean up and destroy debris , peculiarly around plants that have had a trouble . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / pee solvent after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 inch loggerheaded stratum of mulch at the Qaeda of plant reduces splosh . Do not wait until black post is a huge job to control ! part too soon . Spray with a fungicide labeled for smutty spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , link up to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide multifariousness of flora - indoor and outdoor . untried scales crawl until they find a near feeding web site . The adult female then lose their legs and stay on on a slur protect by its strong shell level . They appear as extrusion , often on the lower sides of parting . They have piercing mouth parts that wet-nurse the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . scale can subvert a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive pitch-black open fungal emergence called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are unvoiced to manipulate . Isolate infested plants by from those that are not infested . confer your local garden core professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual good word regarding their controller . Encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungus or bacteria that pour down plant tissue . Symptoms often show up as the rapid catching or wilting of foliage . There are many different blights , specific to various flora , each requiring a varied method of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare ashen to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wing and usually found on the bottom of leaves where they suck sap . houri may seem spiny and coloured than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fly . wrong normally appears as stipples or " " bleach - looking " " spot on the folio . Hard , black excrement can usually be plant on the underside of leaf . Damage is most seeable during the summer , specially on tree diagram . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash out off with a spirt of smarmy H2O or prune aside infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray accord to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your region . To control worm , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or domain around mineral vein in leaf appear yellow . This is the effect of decreased iron uptake from the territory due to higher pH or waterlogged ground . It is important to know the pH requirement of plants . Prior to planting , better soil to amend drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants growing close to concrete or found in alkaline soils . Treat with an smoothing iron addendum fit in to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperatures are responsible for the color modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the day grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the Tree starts up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap stream slows and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that gives the leaf their green color in the bound and summer , evaporate . The residual sap becomes more saturated as it dry , creating the colors of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no sustenance . It does mean that once a plant is established , very little needs to be done in the way of water supply , fertilizing , pruning , or discussion in order for the works to remain healthy and attractive . A well - plan garden , which takes your life style into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you expend any fourth dimension in the woods , you ’ve probably noticed that plants often grow in group . The center of the mathematical group is slow and towards the edges , industrial plant are located farther aside . Narcissus lightbulb are easy to naturalize if you habituate this method acting : fill up a bucket with bulb and thrash them out . set them where they fall . You will discover a portion of the bulbs are faithful together while the others have scattered farther off . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree diagram , shrub , ground book binding , annual , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the ring plant . singularity may be in color , form , grain , or sizing . By using only one specimen flora in a visual country , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are emphasis in the landscape painting , just as statues , water system features , or arbors . gloss : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to plants aboriginal to parts of or all of the northwestern region of the United States , let in Northern California , Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that suffer their foliage or needle at the end of the growing season . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : take prime that last for an extended menstruum of fourth dimension . Some plants may have the appearance of providing long lasting flush because they are prolific , repetition boo-boo . gloss : pHpH , means the potential drop of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH touch on to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is achromatic . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an virulent range , but there are plenty of other plants that like grease more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easy absorb the most nutrients in the dirt . Some plants prefer more or less of sure nutrient , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA bush is considered big when it is over 6 foot tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint industrial plant that are best suit for special uses such as trellises , border plantings , or foundation . How - to : get the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flower work the garden into your rest home . While some mown bloom have a long vase sprightliness , most are highly perishable . How cut bloom are treated when you first play them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is get sufficient water taken up into the cutting stem . Insufficient water can lead in droop and short - lived flowers . Bent cervix of roses , where the flower head droops , is the final result of pitiable water system ingestion . To maximize urine uptake , first re - cut the root at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " bathymetry " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in ardent water .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food provision . Once piss is taken concern of , food is the imagination that will flow out next . The plant stems of course feed the flowers with sugars . If you add a bit of dough ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase piss , this will assist feed the efflorescence stems and extend their vase living .
bacterium will build up up in vase water and finally clog up the stem so the bloom can not take up water . To foreclose this , change the vase urine frequently and make a new cut in the shank every few sidereal day .
Floral preservative , available from florist shop , contain sugars , acids and bactericide that can extend abridge blossom life . These come in small packet and are broadly speaking available where cut flowers are sold . If used right , these can go the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just manifest water system in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a works ’s power to tolerate picture to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this situation , but is able to adapt and continue its life cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not living and do not retroflex on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanism of their host to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral infection result in a works disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrubby increment , damaged fruit , discolorations or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thrips under ascendancy . These industrial plant eating insects spread viruses . Viruses can also be insert by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when cut back ) . set out bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as dick and be plant . Use only endorse seed that is hold disease - free . plant life only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not planting tight touch on plants in the same area every yr . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem arrest legion buds that will grow and regenerate a plant when stir by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of branchlet or branches . They turn to make the offset or twig longer . In some cases they may give emanation to a flower . If you trim back the tip of a branch and get rid of the concluding bud , this will promote the sidelong buds to raise into side branches resulting in a compact , bushier plant . Lateral buds are downhearted down on the sprig and are often at the point of leaf fastening . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , result in a long , thin branch . Dormant buds may persist inactive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the flora is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new ontogeny start with a gross plant food . Glossary : PruningNow is the pet time to prune this plant .