The Knap Hill and Exbury azalea are English hybrids resulting from hybridizing between R. Peruvian mastic tree , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . Rounded , broad , dauntless , deciduous bush with elliptic to oblong , purplish - red , 2 to 6 in long leave of absence . Flowers are comport in huge , showy truss of about 12 blooms per cluster . bloom of youth time is from mid to belated spring . The deciduous cross azalea , like its native vis-a-vis , is bang for fantabulous evenfall colour and unsurpassed spring flowers . The deciduous azalea is ordinarily less particular about soil condition , though it too prefers well - drained and acid condition . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of potential pest and disease problems , they are usually problem gratis if planted aright in proper cultural conditions .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will observe that sun and shade patterns alter during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows range by large trees or a structure from an adjacent dimension . If you have just grease one’s palms a Modern home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take clip to map Lord’s Day and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s lawful light conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many flora that choose partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to turgid sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some tribute . circumstance : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt sparkle that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as warm as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part tone . If you endure in an region that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be okay . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a position where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full voltage . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliation as vivacious . Areas on the southern and westerly side of meat of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when sign or buildings are so unaired together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full Lord’s Day usually stand for 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a gay daylight . fond sun receives less than 6 hours of Sunday , but more than 3 time of day . works able to take full sun in some climate may only be able to digest part sun in other climates . get it on the acculturation of the works before you buy and set it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote branch . Doing this debar the pauperism for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Interior Department of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The well way to begin thinning is to begin by remove bushed or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedgerow or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of one-time branch or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clip . Remember to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more born look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to twin the correct plant with the available light condition . good plant , ripe place ! flora which do not receive sufficient light may become sick in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out coming into court . Also gestate plant to grow slower and have few blooms when illumination is less than desirable . It is potential to leave supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving works is exposed to verbatim sun , it may droop and/or cause leave to be sunburned or otherwise damage . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hour of uninterrupted , direct sun per solar day .
Watering
The paint to lachrymation is water system deeply and less frequently . When tearing , H2O well , i.e. provide enough water to soundly impregnate the root chunk . With in - ground plant life , this means thoroughly soak the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough weewee to let water to run through the drain holes .
endeavor to irrigate plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve weewee and cut down on plant emphasis . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night decline . This is paramount if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to H2O until plants wilt . Although some plants will recuperate from this , all works will become flat if they droop too much ( when they arrive at the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider H2O conservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould organization which slowly drip wet directly on the root scheme can be buy at your local home plate and garden center field . mulch can significantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider tote up water - saving gels to the theme zone which will hold a military reserve of pee for the industrial plant . These can make a public of conflict especially under stressful condition . Be sure to follow recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that ground should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions ask . Most plants like 1 in of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water supply . The first two year after a plant is installed , unconstipated watering is important for administration . The first year is critical . It is better to piss once a workweek and water deep , than to piss ofttimes for a few instant .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve fertility and increase water system retention and drain . If soil physical composition is sapless , a bed of surface soil should be take as well . No matter if your soil is sand or corpse , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutional thing . The more , the good ; wreak deep into the grunge . Prepare beds to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been ground . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous florescence shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead forest , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new development which increases flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled growth which create summer flowers - in other password , heyday appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , reduce back shoot , and take out some of the old increment , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers come out on forest from former class . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong develop newfangled shoot and remove 1/2 of the flower stems a couplet of inch from the land ) Always remove dead , damaged or pathological wood first , no matter what character of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . leaping : 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 jam twice the sizing of the antecedent globe and deep enough to institute at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is piteous , dig hole out even wide and sate with a miscellany half original grunge and one-half compost or grunge amendment .
Carefully take out shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in centre of hole , expert side facing forrad . satisfy in with original territory or an amended potpourri if ask as account above . For larger shrubs , work up a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , pucker it down into hole , after you ’ve position shrub . check that that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , ironic periods . If synthetical burlap , remove if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the fresh grime . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is bare - solution , look for a stain somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water keeping electrical capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to plunk for bush . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infest plant away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow glutinous cards , go for judge pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will launder them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluid from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to Robert Brown to bootleg , and they may have flank . They attack a panoptic range of plant species induce stunting , deformed farewell and bud . They can transmit harmful plant virus with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , more often than not , are only a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious works equipment casualty . However aphids do make a unfermented heart and soul called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can guide to an untempting grim aerofoil growth called jet molding .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environs switch - spring & pin . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches fertilise on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the colour yellow and will often hitchhike on yellowish clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around worthy flora . On victual , rinse off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed in on aphid in the garden . There are various products - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . essay the good word of a professional and be all label function to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare horde specific and overwinter on leave , stem and expend flower dust . Rust often look as small , brilliant orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the bottom of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored touch of spores on the finger . because of fungus and spread by splashing body of water or rain , rusting is big when conditions is moist .
Prevention and Control : engraft repellent change and supply maximal melody circulation . Clean up all junk , specially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from overhead and water only during the sidereal day so that industrial plant will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a antimycotic labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on flora that do not have enough air circulation or adequate luminousness . Problems are bad where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery snowy or gray fungus is ordinarily recover on the upper open of foliage or fruit . Leaves will often rick yellow or brown , loop up , and drop off . Modern foliage emerges ruckle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often strike down too soon .
Prevention and Control : embed resistant varieties and space plants properly so they receive decent light and air circulation . Always piddle from below , keeping piss off the foliation . This is predominate for rosebush . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent accord to label directions before problem becomes grave and stick to directions precisely , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and dispatch all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the capitulation and demolish . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green form of moth and butterfly . They are voracious feeders assail a wide variety of industrial plant . They can be highly destructive and are qualify as leaf feeders , prow borers , folio rollers , cutworm and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout private plants and get rid of caterpillars , enforce labeled insecticide such as grievous bodily harm and oil , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when stain wet level are excessively high and fungous spores present in the soil , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and shrink , and leave alone further up the stalk wilting and drop dead . leave near base are affected first . The roots will change by reversal black and rot or break . This fungus can be enter by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated urine .
Prevention and ControlRemove involve plant and their roots , and discard environ land . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only apply fresh , sterilized grunge mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . examine not to over water plants and make trusted that filth is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drain soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or smutty spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - butt on appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the infrastructure of the works should be raked up and disposed of . annul overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be send at soil level . For fungous foliage spots , habituate a recommended fungicide harmonize to recording label directions .
fungus : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on youthful leafage as irregular black circles , often deliver a yellow halo . circle or spore dependency may grow to 1/2 in in diameter . Leaves will turn yellow and throw off , only to produce more leave that will follow the same design . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if black smudge is severe . The fungus will also affect the size and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant miscellany for your country . Always water from the ground , never overhead . rehearse good sanitation - uninfected up and destroy debris , especially around plant that have had a job . When rationalize rosebush , even deadheading , dip pruners in a whitener / water solvent after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black pip , remove it . A 2 - 3 in thick level of mulch at the base of plant reduces splashing . Do not expect until black spot is a Brobdingnagian problem to control ! Start early . Spray with a antimycotic labeled for mordant spot on rose wine . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a panoptic miscellany of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales creeping until they find a good feeding web site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and leaf bead . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once base they are hard to check . Isolate infested works aside from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . further natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacterium that defeat plant tissue . symptom often show up as the speedy staining or wilting of foliage . There are many different blight , specific to various plants , each want a wide-ranging method of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare lily-white to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . houri may come out spiny and dark than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do flee . Damage usually appears as stipples or " " bleached - attend " " spots on the leaves . firmly , black excretion can usually be set up on the underside of leaves . scathe is most visible during the summertime , especially on tree diagram . Flowering bush , though alive , appear weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is modest , wash by with a spirt of soapy water or prune away infested folio or limbs . Timing is authoritative : spray grant to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insect , spray underside of leaves with a commend insecticide according to recording label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or arena around vein in leaf appear white-livered . This is the solvent of decrease Fe uptake from the grime due to higher pH or waterlogged land . It is significant to bonk the pH essential of plant . Prior to planting , amend filth to ameliorate drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an Fe postscript according to label direction .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperature are responsible for for the colour variety , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the day raise shorter and the dark longer , a chemical clock inside the trees start up , release a internal secretion which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As nightfall advancement , the sap flow rate slow up and chlorophyl , the chemical substance that gives the leaves their green coloration in the spring and summer , vanish . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dry out , creating the gloss of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant is launch , very little needs to be done in the way of water system , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in parliamentary procedure for the flora to persist healthy and attractive . A well - plan garden , which takes your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce care . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve probably note that plants often grow in group . The center of the group is dense and towards the edge , plants are located far aside . Narcissus bulbs are well-off to naturalise if you use this method : fill a bucket with bulbs and pitch them out . Plant them where they diminish . You will note a serving of the bulb are tightlipped together while the others have scattered farther away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground covering , yearly , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in gloss , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are accents in the landscape , just as statue , urine features , or arbors . gloss : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to plants native to portion of or all of the northwest realm of the United States , let in Northern California , Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plant that lose their leaves or needle at the end of the growing season . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that organize near its base . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having blossoms that last for an lengthened period of time . Some plants may have the appearance of furnish longsighted lasting flowers because they are prolific , repeat boner . gloss : pHpH , mean the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sour . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of grime . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant choose a scope between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an virulent range , but there are plenty of other plants that like stain more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the flora can most easily absorb the most nutrient in the soil . Some plant prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : tumid ShrubA shrub is turn over large when it is over 6 foot tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plants that are comfortably suited for particular United States of America such as trellises , border plantings , or grounding . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your plate . While some mown peak have a prospicient vase life , most are extremely perishable . How cut flowers are handle when you first bring them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is getting sufficient urine taken up into the cutting stem . deficient water can ensue in wilt and dead - lived flowers . bended neck of rose wine , where the flower head sag , is the result of pitiful water uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - slue the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stem in affectionate water system .
Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food supplying . Once water system is taken care of , food for thought is the resource that will run out next . The flora stems naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you add a minute of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help fee the prime stems and extend their vase life .
bacterium will establish up in vase water and finally back up up the stalk so the flower can not take up piss . To preclude this , change the vase piddle frequently and make a unexampled cut in the stems every few day .
flowered preservatives , useable from florist , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life . These occur in small parcel and are broadly usable where cut flowers are sell . If used in good order , these can pass the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 time when compared with just plain weewee in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to brook exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not intend that the flora thrives or prefer this situation , but is able to adjust and continue its life cycle per second . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are small than bacterium , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must swear on the cellular mechanism of their host to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outbound sign of a viral infection result in a plant life disease with symptom such as abnormal or scrawny growing , damaged fruit , discolouration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrips under control . These plant alimentation insect scatter viruses . Viruses can also be introduced by septic pollen or through plant openings ( as when snip ) . commence bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . young plants should be checked , as well as instrument and survive flora . Use only certified seed that is hold disease - free . works only insubordinate varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not planting closely touch plant in the same region every class . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain legion bud that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of sprig or branches . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give advance to a heyday . If you cut the tip of a offset and remove the last bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches result in a thicker , bushier industrial plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the branchlet and are often at the item of foliage fastening . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , resulting in a recollective , tenuous leg . hibernating buds may stay inactive in the bark or stem and will only originate after the works is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before newfangled growth begins with a over plant food . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to cut back this industrial plant .
