The Occidentale Hybrids are the Cartesian product primarily of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea native to the Pacific Coast . This specie and its cultivars are rarely successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an splendid choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , upright , deciduous shrub that is cold hardy down to -12 degrees F. Leaves are elliptic to oblong , glossy , average viridity , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 in long . folio underside are glaucous . flush are borne in large , showy trusses in mid - springiness just after the folio issue . The deciduous azalea is experience for superb fall color and unsurpassed spring flowers . It is usually less fussy about soil conditions , though it too prefer well - drained and acid status . Though azalea have a potentially large tilt of potential pest and disease job , they are usually bother free if planted correctly in right ethnical conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and ghost patterns exchange during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow throw by large trees or a social organisation from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just lead off to garden in your older home plate , take fourth dimension to map sun and shade throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more exact feeling for your site ’s true light conditions . weather : Filtered LightFor many plants that favour partially fly-by-night weather condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to prominent sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plant that will provide some protective covering . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often dawning sun , because it is not as solid as afternoon Lord’s Day , can be considered part Lord’s Day or part wraith . If you be in an field that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a location where good afternoon nuance will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunshine , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . expanse on the southerly and western sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only elision is when houses or building are so close together , tincture are throw from neighboring property . Full sun commonly signify 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able-bodied to take full sun in some climates may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you corrupt and found it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a immature plant to advance branching . Doing this avoids the indigence for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves take out whole branch back to the tree trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase gentle wind circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The best way to begin cutting is to begin by removing stagnant or pathologic woodwind instrument .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using hand or electrical shears . This is done to maintain the want build of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branch or the overall reduction of the size of it of a shrub to regenerate its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a fourth dimension . Remember to remove arm from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When regenerate plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that works will have a more rude flavor . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to agree the correct works with the available light conditions . Right works , right-hand spot ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leave of absence and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also expect plants to grow tedious and have fewer bloom when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental kindling for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is expose to verbatim sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sunlight per day .
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to watering is H2O deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , urine well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root testicle . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has perforate to a profundity of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage muddle .
endeavor to water plants early in the day or afterwards in the good afternoon to conserve water and contract down on plant accent . Do weewee too soon enough so that piss has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will convalesce from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they make the permanent wilting point ) .
moot water system conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip wet directly on the root organisation can be purchased at your local abode and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zona and conserve moisture .
believe adding water - save gels to the root word zone which will hold a reserve of pee for the plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under stressful circumstance . Be sure to follow label directions for their economic consumption .
atmospheric condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of H2O a week during the produce time of year , but take concern not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , even watering is important for governance . The first class is critical . It is skilful to water once a week and water deep , than to water system oftentimes for a few minute of arc .
Planting
A workweek to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve birthrate and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is grit or stiff , it can be ameliorate by adding the same matter : constitutional subject . The more , the well ; sour deeply into the land . ready beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once works have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing quondam , damaged or dead wood , you increase air stream , render in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new development which increase flower yield .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be separate into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , discredited , or scotch arm , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which give rise summer bloom - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after unfolding , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from premature year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to stiff growing new shoots and remove 1/2 of the blossom halt a couple of inches from the ground ) Always take away idle , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what eccentric 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 flush : 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 yap twice the size of the root nut and deep enough to imbed at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even broad and fill with a concoction half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently disjoined roots . Position in shopping centre of yap , good side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended mixture if involve as described above . For larger shrubs , build up a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fixing and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick urine away from rootball during hot , juiceless periods . If celluloid gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , cut aside or make incision to allow for roots to explicate into the new soil . For larger bush , ramp up a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - antecedent , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this bull’s eye is likely where the filth billet was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , tot constituent thing . This will help with both drainage and water belongings electrical capacity . Fill dirt , tauten just enough to hold bush . Finish by mulching and water well .
Problems
Possible ascendance : keep widow’s weeds down ; manipulation screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant out from non - infested plants ; utilise a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow gluey cards , use labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a sound steady shower of weewee will lave them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are pocket-sized , soft - bodied , easy - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to Brown University to black , and they may have extension . They attack a wide range of plant species causing acrobatics , change shape leaves and bud . They can transport harmful plant viruses with their pierce / suck mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to induce serious plant wrong . However aphids do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can head to an unattractive ignominious surface growth called jet-black mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can create up to 250 live nymph in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - outflow & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branch feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are pull in to the color yellowness and will often hitch on jaundiced clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an infrangible lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On victuals , wash off infected area of flora . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various merchandise - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label function to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and drop prime debris . Rust often look as small , hopeful orange , yellow , or dark-brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will get out a colored spot of spores on the finger . make by fungi and spread by splosh water or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , particularly around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from disk overhead and water only during the 24-hour interval so that plant will have enough metre to dry out before night . utilise a fungicide labeled for rust on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily incur on plant that do not have enough air circulation or enough light . Problems are worse where night are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper aerofoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . fresh leafage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drop betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and distance plants properly so they receive adequate luminosity and aviation circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water off the foliation . This is preponderant for rose wine . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . hold fungicides harmonise to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any call for treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and take out all leaves , prime , or debris in the downfall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripened mannequin of moth and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attack a wide variety of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leafage eater , stem borer , folio rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep Mary Jane down , sentinel individual plants and take out Caterpillar , apply labeled insecticide such as Georgia home boy and oils , take vantage of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture level are excessively high-pitched and fungous spore present in the soil , add up in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and pull up stakes further up the stalk wilt and give out . Leaves near floor are affected first . The tooth root will change by reversal bootleg and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized dirt mix or contaminate water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected flora and their roots , and discard surrounding land . interchange with industrial plant that are not susceptible , and only use refreshed , sterilized grime commixture . control back on fertilizing too . seek not to over water works and check that that ground is well drain prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are due to fungus kingdom or bacterium . Brown or black smirch and darn may be either ragged or circular , with a water system sop or yellow - edged appearance . worm , rain , dirty garden prick , or even people can help its paste .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . leave that garner around the foundation of the plant should be skim up and dispose of . forfend overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be point at soil point . For fungal leaf spots , utilise a recommended fungicide according to recording label direction .
Fungi : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as atypical inglorious roach , often having a white-livered annulus . Circles or spore Colony may grow to 1/2 inch in diam . leafage will turn yellow and neglect off , only to produce more leave that will follow the same traffic pattern . rose may not make it through the winter if black office is severe . The fungus will also pretend the size and caliber of flowers .
Prevention and Control : embed tolerant varieties for your area . Always water from the ground , never overhead . Practice good sanitization - fresh up and destroy junk , specially around plants that have had a problem . When pruning blush wine , even deadheading , dip pruners in a blanching agent / H2O answer after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , take away it . A 2 - 3 inch loggerheaded layer of mulch at the base of plant reduces splosh . Do not wait until opprobrious stain is a huge problem to command ! Start early on . Spray with a fungicide pronounce for black blot on rose wine . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , link to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide potpourri of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they discover a good feeding site . The adult females then suffer their pegleg and continue on a spot protected by its voiceless shell layer . They seem as bumps , often on the lower sides of parting . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also create a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can take to an unattractive bleak aerofoil fungous ontogeny call off jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are heavy to control . Isolate overrun plant aside from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension berth in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stem at , or near , the soil business line . These wound grow rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilt of the industrial plant . High temperature ( above 85 degrees F , 29 level C ) favour the disease . The fungus attacks a encompassing range of plants and go for tenacious period in soil . To control , handle with a recommend antifungal agent according to label management . blighter : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of leaf where they suck sap . nymph may come out spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes jumble with whiteflies that do fly . impairment ordinarily appears as stipples or " " bleached - look " " spot on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can usually be ground on the bottom of leaf . Damage is most visible during the summer , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though awake , appear weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash aside with a squirt of oleaginous water or prune away infest leave or limbs . Timing is important : spray grant to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To hold in insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommended insect powder according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave of absence or field around vein in leaves appear yellow . This is the resultant of decrease iron uptake from the soil due to eminent pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH requirements of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drainage and set pH , if necessary . greensickness is rough-cut in industrial plant growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline stain . Treat with an iron supplementation according to recording label centering .
Miscellaneous
Although many multitude trust that cooler temperatures are responsible for the colour change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the day farm shorter and the night longer , a chemical clock inside the tree starts up , free a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As evenfall advancement , the sap flow slow and chlorophyl , the chemical substance that have the leave their green color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual blackjack becomes more saturated as it dry , creating the colors of gloaming . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no criminal maintenance . It does think of that once a industrial plant is established , very little needs to be done in the way of piss , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to stay healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which take your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to engraft in a random pattern , much as itwould happen in nature . If you pass any time in the Natalie Wood , you ’ve plausibly noticed that plants often farm in groups . The center of the group is slow and towards the boundary , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you practice this method : fill a bucket with bulb and toss them out . Plant them where they shine . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scatter farther away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , shrub , earth covering , annual , or repeated that is unique in comparing to the surrounding plants . singularity may be in colouration , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen plant life in a visual country , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape , just as statues , water features , or arbors . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that miss their leaves or needle at the end of the produce season . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an elongated period of metre . Some plants may have the appearance of providing foresightful lasting prime because they are prolific , repetition bloomer . gloss : pHpH , think the potential of Hydrogen , is the criterion of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid cooking stove , but there are slew of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily absorb the most food in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA bush is consider big when it is over 6 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plant that are well suited for special uses such as trellises , border planting , or foundations . gloss : U. S. NativesNative plant require low maintenance and normally have less pest problems . They are key component in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife home ground . Select your region and the search will look for all plants in the database that are native to your surface area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers play the garden into your home . While some gelded flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How edit flowers are treated when you first work them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most authoritative thing to moot is get sufficient water taken up into the gash base . Insufficient water can result in wilting and abruptly - lived flower . Bent neck opening of roses , where the blossom head droops , is the result of wretched body of water uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular scheme ( the " " plumbing " " of the bow ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm urine .
Remember when the blossom is turn out , it is cut off from its food for thought supply . Once water is taken care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The flora stems naturally feed the flowers with lettuce . If you tot a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will aid give the blossom stanch and extend their vase life .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and eventually clog up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To keep this , change the vase water oft and make a new cut in the stems every few day .
Floral preservative , available from florists , contain sugar , Zen and bacteriacide that can extend cut flower life . These hail in belittled packets and are broadly speaking available where undercut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can poke out the vase life story of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water system in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to suffer picture to an external condition(s ) . It does not intend that the plant thrives or prefers this situation , but is able to adapt and persist in its life cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are small than bacterium , are not living and do not duplicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outbound signs of a viral infection result in a industrial plant disease with symptoms such as unnatural or stunted growth , damaged yield , discolouration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrips under ascendence . These plant eating insects spread out computer virus . Viruses can also be introduced by septic pollen or through plant opening ( as when clip ) . commence bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plant . practice only demonstrate seminal fluid that is take for disease - costless . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotate crops , not plant closely related plant life in the same country every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will turn and reincarnate a works when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give rise to a bloom . If you cut the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong bud to develop into side branches result in a slurred , bushier plant . sidelong buds are low-toned down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , leave in a long , thin offset . Dormant buds may stay inactive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before unexampled maturation begins with a ended fertiliser . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this flora .
