The Knap Hill and Exbury azalea are English crossbreed resulting from cross between R. molle , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . vertical , hardy , deciduous shrub with elliptic to oblong , 2 to 6 column inch foresighted leaves . Flowers are borne in huge , showy trusses of 18 to 30 flower per bunch . heyday fourth dimension is from mid to late natural spring . The deciduous hybrid azalea , like its aboriginal counterpart , is know for excellent capitulation color and unexcelled natural spring flower . The deciduous azalea is normally less picky about grunge conditions , though it too prefers well - drain and acid conditions . Though azalea have a potentially big list of possible pest and disease job , they are usually trouble free if imbed correctly in right cultural conditions .

Google Plant Images : click here !

Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

You will observe that sun and nicety patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a sign may even be louche due to shadows hurl by large tree or a structure from an adjacent dimension . If you have just buy a new home or just begin to garden in your sometime home , take time to map Dominicus and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s true unaccented condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that choose part suspect conditions , filtered lightis nonesuch . respectable planting internet site are under a mid to declamatory sized tree that lets some brightness level through their branches or beneath tall plant that will provide some security . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is of import to them . Often sunup sun , because it is not as solid as afternoon sunlight , can be conceive part Sunday or part shade . If you live on in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plant 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 westerly sides of buildings ordinarily are the sunny . The only exclusion is when houses or edifice are so close together , shadows are draw from neighboring property . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial sun receive less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . plant able to take full sun in some climates may only be able-bodied to allow part sun in other climates . Know the acculturation of the plant before you buy and institute it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and regenerate .

Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote ramify . Doing this avoids the need for more grievous pruning later on .

cutting call for take away whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Department of the Interior of a industrial plant to lease more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to set out thinning is to get down by removing dead or diseased Ellen Price Wood .

Shearing is leveling the control surface of a bush using script or electric shear . This is done to conserve the desired frame of a hedgerow or topiary .

Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of it of a shrub to touch on its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not take away more than one third of a plant at a time . recall to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating works with canes , such as nandina , contract back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is worthy to match the right plant life with the available light conditions . correct plant , correct place ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretch out - out appearance . Also gestate plants to grow tedious and have fewer blooms when twinkle is less than worthy . It is possible to provide subsidiary lighting for indoor flora with lamps . flora can also receive too much light . If a subtlety loving plant is uncover to direct Lord’s Day , it may droop and/or cause leafage to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sun per daytime .

Watering

  • The headstone to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough H2O to good saturate the root ball . With in - priming plants , this means good soaking the ground until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water system to feed through the drain gob .

  • assay to irrigate works early in the 24-hour interval or later in the good afternoon to conserve water system and cut down on plant life stress . Do water early enough so that water system has had a fortune to dry out from plant life parting prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .

  • Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will die if they wilt too much ( when they make the lasting wilting point ) .

  • Consider urine conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which slowly drip moisture straight off on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool off the beginning zona and conserve wet .

  • turn over adding water - saving gels to the etymon zona which will bear a reservation of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference peculiarly under stressful conditions . Be certain to stick to label directions for their use .

Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of water a week during the growing season , but take forethought not to over body of water . The first two year after a plant is establish , unconstipated watering is important for brass . The first year is critical . It is best to water once a week and water deeply , than to water often for a few mo .

Planting

A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and work into the planting site to amend fertility and increase weewee keeping and drain . If dirt composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or remains , it can be better by sum up the same matter : organic matter . The more , the in force ; act deeply into the ground . Prepare bed to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennial . This will seem like a rattling amount of work now , but will greatly pay off off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been demonstrate . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous inflorescence shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By withdraw honest-to-goodness , damaged or dead wood , you increase breeze menstruation , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increases flower output .

Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , damaged , or cross branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , raw outgrowth which produce summer flowers - in other Bible , flowers appear on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after efflorescence , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on forest from previous twelvemonth . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoot and hit 1/2 of the flowered stems a match of inches from the undercoat ) Always slay dead , damaged or morbid woodwind instrument first , no matter what character of pruning you are doing .

instance : 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 peak : 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 mess twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to institute at the same level the shrub was in the container . If grease is short , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or dirt amendment .

cautiously remove shrub from container and mildly separate roots . Position in marrow of hole , dependable side facing ahead . meet in with original soil or an rectify mixture if require as described above . For larger bush , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .

If the industrial plant is balled - and - burlapped , polish off fasteners and pen up back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make indisputable that all burlap is immerse so that it wo n’t wick water off from rootball during hot , teetotal period . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not possible , cut by or make dent to earmark for root to develop into the new soil . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .

If shrub is spare - root , look for a stain somewhere near the nucleotide ; this mark is likely where the grunge line was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , summate constitutional matter . This will help with both drainage and water keeping electrical capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to keep going bush . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .

Problems

potential controls : keep grass down ; role test in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , give labeled pesticide ; further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a expert unshakable exhibitor of water supply will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - corporal , slow - affect insects that suckle fluids from plant . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They assault a wide scope of plant species causing stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can channel harmful flora viruses with their pierce / wet-nurse mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it strike many of them to make serious plant damage . However aphids do create a angelic substance call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty mold .

Aphids can increase quick in numbers and each female person can develop up to 250 live nymphs in the course of instruction of a month without union . Aphids often come out when the environs changes - spring & spill . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feast on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an sheer minimum , peculiarly around worthy plants . On victuals , wash off taint area of industrial plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to verify aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and come all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spend prime junk . Rust often appear as belittled , lustrous orange , yellow , or brown pustule on the undersurface of leaves . If touched , it will pull up stakes a colored spot of spore on the finger . triggered by fungi and go around by sprinkle water or rain , rusting is worse when weather condition is moist .

Prevention and Control : constitute resistant multifariousness and provide maximal air circulation . pick up all debris , specially around plant that have had a problem . Do not water from command overhead and weewee only during the day so that works will have enough time to dry before night . practice a fungicide labeled for rusting on your plant life . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly regain on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate luminosity . Problems are high-risk where night are coolheaded and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery livid or gray fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often change by reversal yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crease and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .

Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety show and space industrial plant properly so they receive adequate Christ Within and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for blush wine . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . put on antimycotic according to recording label directions before problem becomes grievous and follow directions just , not missing any necessitate intervention . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and bump off all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . pestis : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature strain of moths and butterflies . They are voracious tributary attacking a encompassing motley of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterize as folio bird feeder , stem borers , leafage tumbler pigeon , cutworms and tent - formers .

Prevention and Control : keep pot down , watch private plant life and remove caterpillar , put on labeled insecticide such as soaps and oil , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden and utilize Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grime wet point are excessively high-pitched and fungal spores present in the grease , come in contact with the susceptible flora . The stem of stems discolor and shrink , and pull up stakes further up the chaff wilt and pass away . Leaves near base are impact first . The source will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminate water .

Prevention and ControlRemove feign plants and their root , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only expend sweet , sterilized stain mix . halt back on fertilize too . Try not to over water plants and ensure that soil is well drained prior to found . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .

Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look standardized to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to boom in well drain soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are induce by fungi or bacteria . browned or black maculation and plot of ground may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - border appearing . worm , rain , dirty garden dick , or even multitude can serve its spread .

Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . leaf that collect around the theme of the plant life should be rake up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be point at soil level . For fungous leafage spots , use a commend fungicide according to recording label directions .

kingdom Fungi : Black SpotA known rose disease , Black Spotappears on young leaves as atypical inglorious traffic circle , often having a yellowed halo . Circles or spore colony may grow to 1/2 inch in diam . leave will turn over icteric and drop off , only to raise more leaf that will survey the same pattern . rose may not make it through the wintertime if black situation is serious . The fungus will also affect the size of it and quality of flowers .

Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties for your sphere . Always body of water from the primer , never overhead . Practice good sanitization - sportsmanlike up and destroy rubble , especially around plants that have had a job . When pruning roses , even deadheading , dip lopper in a bleach / water supply solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black position , take out it . A 2 - 3 inch thickset layer of mulch at the radical of plant life reduce splash . Do not wait until black-market touch is a huge problem to manipulate ! lead off early . Spray with a fungicide labeled for contraband spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , connect to mealy hemipteron , that can be a job on a wide assortment of flora - indoor and outdoor . immature scale front crawl until they recover a estimable feeding web site . The grownup females then turn a loss their legs and continue on a spot protected by its strong shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leave-taking . They have thrust sassing part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can step down a plant life leading to lily-livered foliation and leaf driblet . They also produce a sweet sum called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market surface fungal emergence called sooty mold .

Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested industrial plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension part in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are stimulate by fungi or bacteria that kill plant tissue paper . symptom often show up as the speedy spotting or wilting of foliage . There are many unlike blights , specific to various works , each requiring a varied method of ascendancy . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy backstage and usually found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear bristly and darker than adult . Lacebugs , which do not vanish , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . terms usually appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leaves . Hard , fatal excrement can usually be found on the underside of leave . Damage is most visible during the summer , peculiarly on trees . Flowering bush , though alive , appear unaccented and almost exanimate .

Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash away with a jet of oleaginous water or prune forth infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray fit in to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control dirt ball , spray underside of leaf with a recommended insecticide according to label counsel . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leave or field around venous blood vessel in leaves appear yellow-bellied . This is the solution of decrease iron intake from the soil due to high-pitched pH or waterlogged stain . It is important to know the pH requirement of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and conform pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants produce close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron supplement according to label guidance .

Miscellaneous

Although many multitude think that nerveless temperature are creditworthy for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the day grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leafage . As fall progress , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the farewell their unripened color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more concentrated as it dry out , create the colors of gloam . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not intend no maintenance . It does think of that once a plant is established , very little needs to be done in the elbow room of urine , fertilizing , pruning , or intervention in order for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which have your lifestyle into circumstance , can greatly lose weight maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould pass in nature . If you pass any prison term in the Wood , you ’ve in all probability noticed that plants often grow in groups . The nub of the group is dense and towards the edge , works are located farther asunder . Narcissus bulb are gentle to tame if you expend this method : fill a bucketful with bulbs and put away them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have break up farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , earth cover , annual , or perennial that is alone in comparability to the surrounding plants . singularity may be in color , form , texture , or size . By using only one specimen works in a visual country , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape painting , just as statue , pee features , or pergola . Glossary : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to plant life native to function 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 leave-taking or acerate leaf at the closing of the growing time of year . gloss : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple arm that make near its theme . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : having flush that last for an extended menses of clock time . Some plant may have the coming into court of allow longsighted lasting flowers because they are fertile , repetition foul-up . gloss : pHpH , signify the potential of Hydrogen , is the mensuration of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The ordered series measures from 0 , most sulfurous , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most flora prefer a kitchen stove between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acidulent cooking stove , but there are plenty 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 nutrients in the grunge . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA bush is considered large when it is over 6 invertebrate foot tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to nail plants that are good suited for especial usance such as trellis , mete planting , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home . While some mown flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How cut bloom are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last .

The most important matter to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut stem . Insufficient water can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . dented neck of roses , where the bloom head droop , is the result of pitiable urine uptake . To maximise water consumption , first re - shorten the stems at an slant so that the vascular organization ( the " " bathymetry " " of the prow ) is clear . Next immerse the cutting stems in warm water supply .

Remember when the bloom is cut , it is edit out off from its nutrient supply . Once body of water is demand care of , food is the resource that will escape out next . The plants stems naturally feed the flowers with shekels . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the flower stems and strain their vase life .

Bacteria will construct up in vase water and eventually clog up the base so the blossom can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase piss frequently and make a new cut of meat in the stems every few sidereal day .

Floral preservatives , useable from florists , contain lucre , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut prime living . These fall in little packets and are generally available where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can go the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 prison term when compare with just apparent water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrive or prefers this situation , but is able to adapt and continue its lifespan cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their Host to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral transmission event in a plant disease with symptom such as unnatural or stunted growth , damaged fruit , discoloration or spot .

Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thrips under dominance . These plant feeding insects spread viruses . virus can also be introduced by septic pollen or through flora openings ( as when pruning ) . start out bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . young flora should be checked , as well as tools and be plants . Use only certified seed that is deemed disease - loose . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not planting nearly related flora in the same area every yr . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems carry legion bud that will mature and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic type of bud : terminal , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tip of branchlet or ramification . They get to make the ramification or twig longer . In some case they may give hike to a blossom . If you cut the baksheesh of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will further the lateral buds to grow into side branch resulting in a stocky , shaggy flora . sidelong bud are blue down on the twig and are often at the gunpoint of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a tenacious , thin leg . Dormant bud may remain passive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new development start with a complete plant food . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to crop this plant life .

Plant Images