The Knap Hill and Exbury azaleas are English hybrids resulting from hybrid between R. Peruvian mastic tree , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . unsloped , hardy , deciduous shrub with elliptic to oblong , 2 to 6 inch long leave-taking . Flowers are borne in vast , showy truss of 18 to 30 rosiness per cluster . Bloom time is from mid to late natural spring . The deciduous hybrid azalea , like its aboriginal twin , is known for first-class crepuscule color and unsurpassed outflow flowers . The deciduous azalea is commonly less picky about grime condition , though it too prefers well - drain and acid consideration . Though azalea have a potentially large list of potential plague and disease problems , they are normally trouble complimentary if planted correctly in proper ethnical conditions .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will detect that Lord’s Day and shade pattern change during the solar day . The western side of a business firm may even be louche due to shadows cast by prominent trees or a structure from an contiguous prop . If you have just bought a new dwelling or just beginning to garden in your erstwhile home , take fourth dimension to map out sun and spectre throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your land site ’s true short conditions . Conditions : separate out LightFor many plants that favour part shady condition , filter out lightis ideal . undecomposed planting sites are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree that lease some light through their branches or beneath tall plants that will supply some auspices . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour sparkle that is strain . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often sunup sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part wraith . If you dwell in an expanse that does not get much acute Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day picture may be okay . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be get . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential difference . Many of these plant life will do fine with a little less sun , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southern and western side of construction normally are the sunny . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so near together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun commonly means 6 or more hours of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a sunny mean solar day . fond sun receives less than 6 hour of Dominicus , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full sun in some clime may only be capable to tolerate part sun in other climates . screw the culture of the works before you bribe and plant it !
Watering
The key to watering is water supply deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. allow for enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - terra firma plant , this think thoroughly soaking the grease until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , enforce enough water to allow water to flow through the drain cakehole .
stress to irrigate flora early in the daytime or later in the afternoon to conserve urine and cut down on industrial plant stress . Do water early enough so that water system has had a chance to dry out from flora leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will buy the farm if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting full stop ) .
Consider weewee conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping systems which slow drop moisture forthwith on the source system can be purchase at your local rest home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
reckon total water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference particularly under stressful condition . Be certain to follow recording label charge for their usance .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that stain should be kept equally moist and irrigate regularly , as stipulation require . Most works like 1 inch of weewee a week during the maturate time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a plant life is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water supply once a week and water deeply , than to water oft for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 24-hour interval before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retentiveness and drainage . If soil make-up is weak , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is moxie or mud , it can be amend by total the same matter : constitutive issue . The more , the better ; work late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing honest-to-goodness , discredited or dead wood , you increase air flow , give way in less disease . 2 . You restore new growth which increases heyday production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be separate into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only beat , diseased , discredited , or crossed ramification , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new increment which produce summer bloom - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to inviolable growing raw shoot and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of column inch from the primer ) Always slay bushed , discredited or diseased Ellen Price 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 bloom : 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 trap twice the size of it of the root formal and deep enough to found at the same degree the bush was in the container . If grime is poor , dig hole even wide and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously transfer shrub from container and mildly disjoined root word . Position in center of hole , best side confront forward . Fill in with original filth or an remedy mixture if require as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and pen up back the top of natural burlap , tuck it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . ensure that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water off from rootball during hot , dry stop . If celluloid burlap , bump off if potential . If not possible , cut away or make slit to earmark for roots to explicate into the Modern grime . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is spare - root , look for a discolouration somewhere near the cornerstone ; this soft touch is probable where the soil pedigree was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , impart organic topic . This will help with both drain and water belongings capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to substantiate shrub . Finish by mulching and water well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in window to keep them out ; take away infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; hole with chickenhearted glutinous bill , apply label pesticides ; further instinctive enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a serious regular shower of water will dampen them off the flora . Pest : AphidsAphids are low , voiced - bodied , tardily - moving insect that absorb fluids from works . Aphidscome in many coloration , ranging from dark-green to John Brown to contraband , and they may have wings . They attack a spacious range of plant species causing acrobatics , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their piercing / suck mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are just a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious industrial plant terms . However aphids do create a sweet meaning call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can go to an unattractive black Earth’s surface development called pitchy mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the class of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on lush tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on icteric clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plant . On edible , rinse off infect area of works . gentlewoman hemipteron and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to check aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedure to a tee . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air travel circulation or adequate Light Within . Problems are worse where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is commonly found on the upper surface of folio or fruit . leave will often rick yellowed or brown , curl up , and miss off . New leaf emerge wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often flatten too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and blank industrial plant properly so they get adequate brightness and air circulation . Always water from below , restrain water off the leaf . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . implement fungicide according to recording label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow charge exactly , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , blossom , or debris in the surrender and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterfly . They are ravening affluent assail a all-encompassing mixed bag of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterise as folio feeders , root word bore bit , leafage hair curler , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down , scout case-by-case plant and murder cat , put on labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take reward of natural enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden and utilize Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are overly high and fungal spores present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible industrial plant . The base of stanch discolor and shrink , and leave further up the chaff wilt and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungus kingdom can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminated body of water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect plants and their ascendent , and discard beleaguer soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only utilize impudent , sterilized land mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over body of water plants and make certain that land is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drain soil . pesterer : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young descale crawling until they find a good eating internet site . The grownup females then miss their legs and remain on a post protected by its voiceless shell layer . They seem as bulge , often on the lower sides of leaf . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of works tissue paper . scale can step down a plant lead to xanthous foliage and leafage drop . They also acquire a fresh means called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can head to an unattractive black aerofoil fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are severe to control . Isolate overrun plants by from those that are not infest . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . Encourage raw enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacterium that kill plant tissue paper . symptom often show up as the rapid spotting or droop of foliage . There are many different blights , specific to various plant , each requiring a varied method of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare lily-white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually happen on the bottom of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may look spiny and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fell , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do vanish . impairment commonly appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " musca volitans on the leaves . firmly , grim excrement can unremarkably be found on the underside of leaf . equipment casualty is most seeable during the summer , especially on tree . Flowering shrub , though alive , come along infirm and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is balmy , wash aside with a honey oil of soapy water or prune away infested farewell or limbs . Timing is important : spray grant to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insect , spray underside of folio with a recommended insect powder according to label focal point . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave or expanse around veins in leaves appear sensationalistic . This is the termination of decreased iron uptake from the soil due to mellow pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH requirements of plant life . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is uncouth in plants growing close to concrete or establish in alkaline soils . do by with an iron supplement grant to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many people trust that cooler temperature are creditworthy for the color change , the conditions has nothing to do with it at all . As the years grow inadequate and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a internal secretion which restricts the flow of sap to each folio . As downfall advancement , the sap menses slows and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that gives the leaves their green color in the outpouring and summer , disappear . The residual sap becomes more saturated as it dry , make the colors of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no criminal maintenance . It does intend that once a flora is established , very little want to be done in the way of body of water , fertilizing , pruning , or handling in order for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to plant in a random design , much as itwould come about in nature . If you expend any fourth dimension in the woods , you ’ve probably remark that plants often grow in groups . The center of the group is dull and towards the edges , plants are settle farther aside . Narcissus electric-light bulb are easy to naturalize if you expend this method acting : sate a pail with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they lessen . You will notice a portion of the bulb are close together while the others have scattered far aside . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , background cover , annual , or perennial that is unique in equivalence to the surround plants . Uniqueness may be in color , shape , texture , or size of it . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen flora are accents in the landscape painting , just as statues , water feature , or arbors . Glossary : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to plants native to parts of or all of the northwestern region of the United States , including Northern California , Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that lose their leaves or needles at the end of the growing time of year . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branch that form near its substructure . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : deliver flower that last for an protracted period of time . Some plant may have the appearance of providing long survive flowers because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , mean the potential drop of Hydrogen , is the metre of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of grunge . The scale touchstone from 0 , most acrid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is inert . Most works prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an caustic range , but there are plenteousness of other plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily draw the most food in the soil . Some industrial plant prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : big ShrubA shrub is considered large when it is over 6 human foot tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be capable to pinpoint plants that are well suited for particular uses such as trellises , perimeter plantings , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut blossom lend the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut prime are treated when you first bestow them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most of import thing to deal is obtain sufficient water taken up into the track stalk . Insufficient water can result in wilting and abruptly - inhabit flowers . out to cervix of roses , where the flower head sag , is the result of poor water uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - rationalize the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " bathymetry " " of the stem ) is percipient . Next immerse the cut of meat stem in warm piddle .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off off from its food supply . Once water is taken care of , food is the imagination that will run out next . The plants stems course feed the flowers with simoleons . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the blossom stems and hold out their vase life .
Bacteria will construct up in vase water and finally foul up the stem so the flower can not take up water supply . To prevent this , change the vase water frequently and make a newfangled cut in the stems every few day .
Floral preservative , available from florists , contain sugar , acids and bacteriacide that can pass skip flower life . These occur in lowly packet and are generally available where gash flowers are sell . If used by rights , these can gallop the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just unmingled water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a flora ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an outside condition(s ) . It does not entail that the plant thrives or favor this situation , but is able to adjust and continue its life sentence cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not live and do not repeat on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward mansion of a viral infection result in a works disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted ontogeny , damaged fruit , discolorations or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrip under command . These plant life alimentation insects spread viruses . computer virus can also be introduced by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when cut back ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plant . Use only certified semen that is deemed disease - innocent . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not planting closely related plants in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems carry legion buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three introductory types of buds : terminal , lateral and torpid . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or arm . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give hike to a flower . If you cut the lead of a arm and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong bud to arise into side branches result in a thicker , bushy plant . sidelong bud are lower down on the sprig and are often at the point of leafage attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , lead in a foresighted , thin branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the bark or root word and will only grow after the plant is slue back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the favourite time to prune this plant .
