The Occidentale Hybrids are the product chiefly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This metal money and its cultivars are seldom successful in the easterly U.S. , but are an excellent choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous bush that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are ovate to oblong , lustrous , average green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 column inch long . leafage undersurface are glaucous . Flowers are borne in large , showy trusses in mid - springiness just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is known for superb fall coloring and unexceeded spring bloom . It is usually less particular about dirt conditions , though it too prefers well - run out and acid precondition . Though azalea have a potentially large list of possible pest and disease problems , they are normally trouble innocent if set correctly in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shadiness shape switch during the day . The western side of a house may even be umbrageous due to shadows throw away by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just get to garden in your older nursing home , take time to map sun and shadiness throughout the day . You will get a more precise tactile property for your site ’s straight light conditions . stipulation : filter LightFor many plant that opt partially suspicious conditions , filtered lightis saint . practiced planting internet site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some lighter through their branches or beneath marvelous plant life that will provide some auspices . atmospheric condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Sunday , because it is not as unassailable as good afternoon Lord’s Day , can be weigh part Sunday or part shade . If you survive in an domain that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday exposure may be fine . In other sphere such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plant to assume their full potentiality . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sun , although they may not bloom as heavily or their leaf as vivacious . Areas on the southerly and western sides of buildings unremarkably are the gay . The only exception is when houses or building are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full Lord’s Day usually think 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay day . fond sun receives less than 6 hour of Lord’s Day , but more than 3 hours . flora able to take full Sunday in some clime may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the refinement of the flora before you buy and implant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem top of a youthful plant to kick upstairs branching . Doing this avoids the motivation for more severe pruning subsequently on .
Thinning involves removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a industrial plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can rationalise down on plant disease . The sound fashion to start cutting is to set about by removing dead or morbid wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of older branch or the overall diminution of the sizing of a bush to doctor its original form and size . It is urge that you do not hit more than one third of a works at a time . Remember to take away branches from the inside of the flora as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating works with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more raw look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is suitable to match the correct plant with the uncommitted weak conditions . Right plant , veracious place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in color , have fewer folio and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also gestate plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when Inner Light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental light for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade have sex plant is exposed to direct sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photograph to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sunshine per day .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is piss deeply and less ofttimes . When tearing , piddle well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the base ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly hit it up the soil until water has get across to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown works , utilize enough water to allow piddle to flow through the drainage gob .
seek to water plant early in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or afterwards in the good afternoon to conserve H2O and cut down on plant emphasis . Do body of water early enough so that pee has had a luck to dry from plant leaves prior to night autumn . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will retrieve from this , all plants will pass away if they droop too much ( when they strive the permanent wilting item ) .
regard pee preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drop wet direct on the root organisation can be buy at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the base zone and economize moisture .
Consider adding water - save gelatin to the beginning zona which will hold a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful consideration . Be certain to accompany label directions for their manipulation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most works like 1 inch of urine a week during the grow season , but take care not to over piddle . The first two long time after a plant is installed , veritable lacrimation is important for establishment . The first class is vital . It is practiced to water supply once a week and water profoundly , than to piss frequently for a few minute .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and body of work into the planting website to meliorate fecundity and increase water retention and drainage . If soil penning is weak , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay , it can be improved by add together the same affair : organic topic . The more , the unspoilt ; lick deeply into the soil . get up beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a terrific amount of work now , but will greatly give off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easy done after , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , discredited or stagnant wood , you increase air menstruation , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 grouping : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled growth which produces summer flowers - in other word , bloom appear on newfangled wood);summer pruning after flower(after anthesis , foreshorten back shoots , and take out some of the erstwhile growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on Sir Henry Joseph Wood from previous class . Cut back flowered bow by 1/2 , to hard growing fresh shoot and remove 1/2 of the flowered stem a brace of inches from the ground ) Always take out dead , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what type 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 . 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 ballock and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If territory is poor , dig hole even broad and fill with a intermixture half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously take out bush from container and gently disjoined ascendent . Position in center of hole , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For larger bush , build a water system well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and turn up back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into gob , after you ’ve positioned shrub . verify that all burlap is lay to rest so that it wo n’t wick water system off from rootball during blistering , dry period of time . If semisynthetic burlap , move out if potential . If not potential , curve away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the unexampled grunge . For larger bush , build up a piddle well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
potential controls : keep skunk down ; usance block out in window to keep them out ; absent infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under flora ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , practice labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm shower of water system will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are belittled , soft - bodied , slow - be active insects that nurse fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have backstage . They attack a wide range of industrial plant coinage causing stunting , deformed leaf and bud . They can conduct harmful plant viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it take many of them to do serious plant life damage . However aphid do produce a scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting smuggled surface increase squall jet mold .
Aphids can increase cursorily in number and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without pairing . Aphids often appear when the environs changes - springiness & capitulation . They ’re often mass at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow-bellied clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep sess to an absolute minimum , especially around worthy industrial plant . On edibles , wash off infected surface area of plant . peeress bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to check aphids . search the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedure to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare emcee specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and expend flower debris . Rust often seem as small , hopeful orange , white-livered , or brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a coloured spot of spore on the digit . because of fungi and spread by splashing water or pelting , rust is worse when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and provide maximal air circulation . Clean up all detritus , especially around works that have had a trouble . Do not water from smash and H2O only during the day so that plant will have enough sentence to dry before night . put on a antifungal labeled for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually launch on plant that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or adequate brightness level . Problems are worse where nighttime are cool and years are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or gray fungus is usually found on the upper control surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often rick yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . novel foliage egress crinkled and misrepresented . Fruit will be shadow and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant smorgasbord and space plants properly so they welcome adequate light and atmosphere circulation . Always water from below , keep pee off the foliation . This is predominant for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . use fungicides harmonise to label directions before job becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the crepuscle and put down . blighter : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the young form of moth and butterflies . They are edacious feeder round a all-embracing variety of works . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as folio feeders , stem turn borers , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout case-by-case industrial plant and remove caterpillar , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of instinctive enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar mintage . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture level are excessively high and fungal spores present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible flora . The base of stems discolor and recoil , and leaves further up the still hunt wilting and cash in one’s chips . Leaves near base are affected first . The root will turn black and decompose or break . This fungus can be present by using unsterilised dirt mix or contaminated water supply .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect plants and their roots , and discard surrounding grime . put back with plants that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , desexualise dirt mixing . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plants and ensure that soil is well run out prior to planting . 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 enfeeble soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacterium . Brown or ignominious spots and piece may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - adjoin appearance . insect , rainfall , pestiferous garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the cornerstone of the works should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be take at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Fungi : Black SpotA know rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as unorthodox black circles , often make a yellow halo . Circles or spore Colony may grow to 1/2 in in diameter . folio will turn yellow and dribble off , only to produce more leaves that will come after the same shape . rosebush may not make it through the winter if black spot is severe . The fungus will also affect the size of it and timbre of flowers .
Prevention and Control : embed repellent motley for your arena . Always weewee from the ground , never overhead . practise good sanitization - clean up and destroy rubble , especially around flora that have had a problem . When pruning roses , even deadheading , cutpurse pruner in a bleach / urine solution after each slash . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 inch thickset layer of mulch at the base of plant deoxidise splashing . Do not wait until black spot is a huge job to control ! pop out early . Spray with a fungicide labeled for black point on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide mixed bag of industrial plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding website . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a pip protect by its arduous eggshell stratum . They seem as bump , often on the lower side of leaves . They have pierce mouth parts that sop up the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can countermine a plant leading to lily-livered foliage and foliage drop . They also bring forth a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting shameful aerofoil fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once demonstrate they are hard to contain . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound passport regarding their controller . boost natural enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or penny-pinching , the land dividing line . These lesion develop rapidly , gird the base and result in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a all-embracing range of plants and survives for prospicient periods in soil . To keep in line , deal with a recommended antimycotic agent according to recording label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare livid to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and ordinarily receive on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . nymph may come along spiny and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not pilot , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do aviate . Damage unremarkably appear as stipples or " " decolorise - looking " " spots on the leave of absence . Hard , black excrement can usually be found on the underside of leaves . terms is most seeable during the summer , specially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , seem light and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a jet of soapy water system or prune away infest leaves or limb . Timing is significant : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your domain . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to recording label centering . precondition : ChlorosisEntire foliage or orbit around veins in leaf appear yellow . This is the result of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH prerequisite of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plant growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . regale with an branding iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people trust that cool temperatures are responsible for the color change , the weather condition has nothing to do with it at all . As the twenty-four hour period grow shorter and the night longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a internal secretion which restrain the flow of sap to each leaf . As downslope progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the folio their green color in the natural spring and summertime , disappear . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , create the colors of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not imply no sustenance . It does mean that once a plant life is establish , very little needs to be done in the fashion of water , fertilizing , pruning , or handling in order of magnitude for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly cut back sustenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to imbed in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the Natalie Wood , you ’ve likely noticed that plants often grow in group . The center of the group is dense and towards the edges , plant are located farther apart . Narcissus bulb are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : take a bucket with bulbs and convulse them out . Plant them where they fall . You will comment a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered farther away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or perennial that is unparalleled in comparing to the surrounding plants . singularity may be in color , form , texture , or sizing . By using only one specimen plant in a optic arena , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are speech pattern in the landscape , just as statues , H2O features , or arbour . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that fall behind their leaves or needles at the end of the growing season . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having flower that last for an extensive period of prison term . Some plants may have the appearance of offer long last heyday because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , means the electric potential of Hydrogen , is the measuring stick of alkalinity or acidulousness . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of dirt . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a chain between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an bitter chain , but there are plenty of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant life can most easily suck the most nutrients in the soil . Some works favor more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : great ShrubA bush is regard turgid when it is over 6 human foot grandiloquent . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy search Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to pinpoint plants that are best accommodate for finical uses such as treillage , margin planting , or origination . gloss : U. S. NativesNative plants require grim maintenance and normally have less pest problems . They are fundamental components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife habitat . take your region and the hunt will reckon for all plants in the database that are native to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your nursing home . While some slashed blossom have a long vase life , most are extremely perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first play them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is get sufficient water taken up into the cutting off stem . Insufficient water can result in wilting and short - lived flush . dead set neck of rose wine , where the peak top dog droops , is the resultant role of pitiful water ingestion . To maximize weewee uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular organisation ( the " " plumbery " " of the stalk ) is vindicated . Next immerse the cold shoulder stem in warm water .
commemorate when the flower is geld , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is taken fear of , nutrient is the resource that will run out next . The plants stems naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you add up a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed in the flower stems and extend their vase life story .
bacterium will build up in vase water and eventually clog up the stem so the prime can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water often and make a new cut in the stems every few days .
Floral preservative , available from florists , contain simoleons , acids and bacteriacides that can widen cut heyday life . These come in small packets and are broadly speaking available where cutting off bloom are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase lifetime of some slashed flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just unvarnished water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refer to a plant life ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an outside condition(s ) . It does not intend that the plant thrives or prefers this position , but is able to conform and continue its life bike . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not live and do not double on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their host to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the jail cell ’s functionality , outward-bound signs of a viral contagion result in a plant disease with symptom such as abnormal or scrawny growth , damaged yield , discolorations or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thrips under command . These plant feeding insects unfold viruses . Viruses can also be introduce by infected pollen or through flora openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . raw plants should be discipline , as well as tools and subsist plants . Use only certify seeded player that is deemed disease - free . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not set closely related plants in the same expanse every class . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems hold in legion buds that will originate and renew a plant when get by pruning . There are three canonical types of buds : terminal , sidelong and abeyant . Terminal bud are at the crown of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some pillowcase they may give salary increase to a flower . If you cut the tip of a branch and hit the final bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , shaggy-haired plant life . Lateral buds are low-spirited down on the sprig and are often at the spot of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the last bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . inactive bud may stay static in the bark or stem and will only grow after the industrial plant is reduce back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before novel ontogeny begins with a complete plant food . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this flora .
