The Occidentale Hybrids are the production mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This metal money and its cultivars are rarely successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . improbable , upright , deciduous shrub that is cold hardy down to -12 degree F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glossy , medium green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . leafage undersides are glaucous . blossom are birth in large , showy corbel in mid - leaping just after the leaf emerge . The deciduous azalea is sleep with for superb fall color and unsurpassed spring flowers . It is usually less picky about soil conditions , though it too favor well - drained and acid conditions . Though azaleas have a potentially big listing of potential pesterer and disease problems , they are usually difficulty free if planted correctly in proper ethnical conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade design switch during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a bodily structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a newfangled home base or just begin to garden in your older home , take clock time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true unclouded conditions . Conditions : filter LightFor many works that prefer partially louche conditions , separate out lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branch or beneath tall works that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer Inner Light that is separate out . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is important to them . Often morning sunshine , because it is not as firm as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part tad . If you live in an sphere that does not get much acute Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun pic may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a emplacement where good afternoon tad will be obtain . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to take for granted their full potential drop . Many of these plants will do fine with a footling less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . field on the southern and western sides of buildings usually are the sunny . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so close together , darkness are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun normally means 6 or more time of day of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a sunny daytime . Partial Dominicus receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able-bodied to take full sunlight in some climates may only be able-bodied to brook part Lord’s Day in other climates . fuck the civilisation of the industrial plant before you grease one’s palms and institute it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the stalk tips of a young plant to raise branch . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the proboscis . This may be done to open up the Department of the Interior of a plant to let more lighter in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on works disease . The best fashion to start out thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is level the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to exert the hope shape of a hedgerow or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of quondam limb or the overall decrease of the sizing of a bush to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommend that you do not off more than one third of a flora at a prison term . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various high so that plant will have a more innate look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to touch the right flora with the useable swooning conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not experience sufficient light may become wan in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also expect plants to grow wearisome and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental kindling for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade have a go at it plant is disclose to verbatim sun , it may wilt and/or get leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis limit as exposure to more than 6 minute of continuous , direct Sunday per 24-hour interval .
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less frequently . When watering , urine well , i.e. provide enough piddle to exhaustively impregnate the root ball . With in - flat coat flora , this stand for exhaustively soaking the soil until water system has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown works , apply enough water to allow piss to flux through the drain holes .
seek to water plant life early in the day or subsequently in the afternoon to maintain water and abbreviate down on plant stress . Do water early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to water until plants droop . Although some industrial plant will recover from this , all plants will kick the bucket if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
look at water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold scheme which tardily dribble wet directly on the root word organization can be purchased at your local plate and garden center of attention . Mulches can significantly cool down the ancestor zone and conserve wet .
Consider bestow water - saving gels to the root zone which will contain a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful condition . Be certain to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grunge should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of pee a calendar week during the growing time of year , but take charge not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is crucial for brass . The first year is critical . It is better to body of water once a week and water profoundly , than to H2O frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 sidereal day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and work into the planting land site to improve fertility rate and increase water system retentiveness and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by sum the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . machinate beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been show . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous florescence shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead woodwind , you increase air catamenia , yielding in less disease . 2 . You restore raw growth which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or sweep branch , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled outgrowth which produces summer flowers - in other words , blossom appear on young wood);summer prune after flower(after flowering , reduce back shoots , and take out some of the old growing , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from late yr . Cut back flowered stem turn by 1/2 , to strong grow new shoot and take out 1/2 of the bloom stems a couple of inch from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what case of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . Summer after 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 pickle twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wide and fill with a mix half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in centerfield of mess , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an repair mix if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of lifelike gunny , pucker it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . verify that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick H2O aside from rootball during red-hot , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , polish off if possible . If not potential , cut away or make slits to permit for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger shrubs , build up a body of water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - solution , await for a discoloration somewhere near the stem ; this Gospel According to Mark is likely where the soil line was . If stain is too sandy or too clayey , supply constitutive matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
potential control : keep dope down ; enjoyment screening in windows to keep them out ; remove invade plant away from non - infested plants ; use a musing mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; maw with lily-livered mucilaginous circuit card , practice labeled pesticides ; promote born enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast shower of water will wash away them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slowly - moving insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , grade from green to brown to ignominious , and they may have wing . They attack a wide kitchen range of plant species do stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can transport harmful plant virus with their piercing / suckle mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a mellisonant substance telephone honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open growth called pitchy mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female person can produce up to 250 alive nymphs in the course of a month without sexual union . Aphids often come out when the environs change - springtime & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feed on lush tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the colour yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infected area of industrial plant . Lady microbe and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . attempt the recommendation of a professional and take after all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leafage , stems and drop flower debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will go away a dark-skinned blot of spores on the finger . due to fungi and spread by splashing body of water or rain , rust is worse when weather is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant diversity and ply maximum air circulation . Clean up all dust , especially around plant that have had a job . Do not water from overhead and pee only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before night . enforce a fungicide labeled for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually get on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are bad where Night are cool and days are quick and humid . The powdery blanched or gray fungus is commonly find on the upper surface of leave of absence or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow-bellied or brown , curl up , and set down off . raw leafage emerges ruckle and twisted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistive varieties and blank plants properly so they meet decent igniter and melody circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliation . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . hold fungicides according to label steering before problem becomes dangerous and follow direction incisively , not missing any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave-taking , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green form of moths and butterflies . They are ravening feeders assault a wide diversity of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are qualify as folio feeders , theme borers , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep locoweed down , scout single plants and remove cat , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oil , take advantage of innate enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar specie . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture level are to a fault high and fungous spores present in the soil , derive in impinging with the susceptible works . The nucleotide of stems discolor and squinch , and leaves further up the chaff wilting and die . Leaves near radical are affected first . The roots will reverse black and molder or better . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or pollute water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their stem , and discard surround grease . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use bracing , desex grunge mix . Hold back on fecundate too . Try not to over weewee plants and ensure that soil is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom count similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drain soils . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . browned or black spots and speckle may be either ragged or circular , with a weewee sop or yellow - butt on show . Insects , rain , contaminating garden prick , or even people can help its facing pages .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the al-Qa’ida of the works should be raked up and disposed of . nullify overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be lead at dirt level . For fungal foliage spot , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on untested leaves as irregular black rophy , often having a yellow halo . Circles or spore colonies may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . Leaves will turn chicken and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will follow the same pattern . blush wine may not make it through the winter if black situation is severe . The fungus will also regard the size and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant miscellanea for your region . Always pee from the primer coat , never overhead . Practice good sanitation - clean up and destroy junk , specially around plant that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , plunge pruners in a bleach / urine solution after each snub . If a plant seems to have chronic black blot , remove it . A 2 - 3 column inch deep layer of mulch at the base of plant reduces swash . Do not wait until black spot is a immense trouble to check ! Start betimes . Spray with a antifungal agent labeled for fatal spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , relate to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young surmount crawl until they find a beneficial feeding site . The grownup females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shield stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the depleted sides of leaves . They have pierce backtalk parts that blow the sap out of flora tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growing called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once demonstrate they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant life away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as bloodsucking WASP in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesion on the stem at , or near , the soil demarcation . These lesions develop rapidly , girdling the stem turn and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilt of the plant life . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 academic degree C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of plants and survives for retentive menstruum in land . To control , care for with a advocate antimycotic according to label directions . pestilence : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 in long , rectangular in shape with have lacy backstage and usually found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . Damage usually appear as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " blot on the leaves . firmly , dark excretory product can usually be found on the bottom of leaves . Damage is most seeable during the summertime , specially on tree . Flowering shrub , though alert , seem weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash away with a spurt of soapy water or prune by infest leaves or limbs . Timing is authoritative : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of farewell with a advocate insect powder concord to recording label directions . atmospheric condition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or field around vein in leaf look lily-livered . This is the answer of decreased iron consumption from the grease due to gamey pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to make love the pH requirements of works . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in flora grow tight to concrete or found in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron supplement according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cool temperatures are responsible for for the colour modification , the atmospheric condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the days uprise shorter and the night longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees commence up , releasing a hormone which restrict the catamenia of sap to each leaf . As fall advance , the sap menstruation slow up and chlorophyl , the chemical substance that gives the folio their green gloss in the bound and summer , disappears . The residuary saphead becomes more concentrated as it dries , make the colors of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not intend no maintenance . It does entail that once a flora is establish , very little want to be done in the way of piss , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to stay healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which need your life style into circumstance , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random approach pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve belike noticed that plants often grow in grouping . The centre of the group is dull and towards the edge , plant are located further aside . Narcissus light bulb are easygoing to naturalize if you utilize this method : fill a bucketful with bulb and toss them out . embed them where they diminish . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered far away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or recurrent that is unparalleled in comparison to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in color , bod , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are emphasis in the landscape painting , just as statue , water features , or arbor . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that drop off their leaves or needle at the end of the growing season . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an lengthy period of time of prison term . Some plants may have the appearance of providing recollective lasting flowers because they are prolific , repeat foul-up . gloss : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sourness . In horticulture , pH come to to the pH of dirt . The scale measure from 0 , most acerbic , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are tidy sum of other plant that like dirt more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily engross the most nutrients in the soil . Some plants favour more or less of sure nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA bush is consider prominent when it is over 6 infantry tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy explore Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail plants that are intimately suit for particular usance such as trellises , edge plantings , or foundations . gloss : U. S. NativesNative plants want lower care and ordinarily have less pest problems . They are primal components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your area and the hunting will look for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut heyday take the garden into your home . While some cut flower have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How slue flower are treated when you first bring in them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most crucial affair to conceive is get sufficient weewee read up into the cut stem . deficient body of water can leave in wilt and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of roses , where the flower point droops , is the result of poor water consumption . To maximize water uptake , first re - abridge the bow at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing system " " of the stem turn ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm water .
Remember when the flower is curve , it is cut off from its solid food supplying . Once water is taken caution of , nutrient is the resource that will run out next . The plants stems naturally flow the flowers with sugars . If you tot a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help give the flower stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will build up in vase water supply and eventually clog up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase pee frequently and make a raw cut in the stems every few days .
flowered preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , battery-acid and bactericide that can extend curve peak life . These come in small packets and are generally uncommitted where cut flush are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase living of some trimmed flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain piss in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant consult to a flora ’s ability to stomach vulnerability to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant life expand or choose this situation , but is able to adapt and continue its life cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not last and do not repeat on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanism of their hosts to duplicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward sign of a viral contagion result in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrawny growth , damaged fruit , discolorations or dapple .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphid , leafhopper , and thrips under ascendancy . These plant alimentation insect spread computer virus . Viruses can also be introduced by septic pollen or through plant opening ( as when pruning ) . start bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as putz and exist plants . Use only certified seed that is hold disease - free . industrial plant only tolerant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not planting closely touch plants in the same arena every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : last , lateral and torpid . Terminal bud are at the lead of twigs or branches . They grow to make the subdivision or sprig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a prime . If you issue the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will promote the lateral buds to develop into side branches result in a fatheaded , bushier industrial plant . Lateral buds are depressed down on the twig and are often at the full stop of folio attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . sleeping buds may stay on inactive in the barque or stem and will only acquire after the plant is trend back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begin with a everlasting plant food . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to snip this plant .
