What to do here: removing azaleas
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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- 5 years ago
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I am newbie here to azaleas have questions
Comments (1)Rhododendron and azaleas vary in size. The amount of bloom is determined by variety, but also by exposure to sun and general health and fertility of the soil. More light means more blooms, and more shade means fewer blooms. Poor soil means fewer blooms, while adequate phosphates and to some extent potassium means more blooms. The plant also needs to be hardy for the area. Cold winters can kill flower buds before they bloom. Also, pruning after the beginning of summer will remove the next years flowers. They form the buds for next years flowers about a month after they bloom. If you prune in mid summer or later you are removing the next years flower buds. They also vary in height according to variety. The information included with a plant normally tells its height after 10 years. For Ohio, Ohio State University has an excellent publication on line: Here is a link that might be useful: Rhododendrons and Azaleas in Ohio...See MoreI have an Azalea Bush and dont know what to do!!! (pics)
Comments (4)Hello, Bigdaddy. I am not good at guessing plant names so I will comment on your other questions and see if someone else chimes in. Pruning should be done as soon as flowering is done in the Spring. The flower buds usually set sometime in the summer so, if you prune then, you are actually cutting off next year's flowers. As for food/fertilizer, they rarely need it. The decomposition of mulch under the plant provides most of the 'food'. Some people will use Hollytone or cottonseed meal in the spring. I add some bone meal at the same timed. Have you done a soil analysis recently, say in the last 3-5 years? If not, consider one in case your soil needs additional minerals. Also, check out the Azalea Society's Website for more hints/info. By the way, your azalea looks very nice and healthy, Luis Here is a link that might be useful: Link to the Azalea Society Website...See MoreNew here and azalea question
Comments (3)Susan, I just want to say welcome to the forum and no question is inappropriate so ask anything here. In some parts of Oklahoma that have well-draining soil and more acidic soil, azaleas are easy to grow in the ground. In the parts of OK that have very dense, slow-draining alkaline clay, they are better off grown in containers or in raised beds filled with a peat moss/pine bark mix or you can use pecan shells if you can find them. I never see the pecan shells down here in southern OK. Our commercial pecan industry down here isn't what it once was, but it sounds like they are readily available in NE OK. Azaleas grow best in soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0 so be sure you put either buy or put together a mix for your containers that is within the right pH range for them. Even here in southern OK where our soil pH is in the 8.0 to 8.2 range and many of us have dense, slow-draining red clay soil, you can grow azaleas in a raised bed that is very well amended with peat moss and pine bark fines, particularly if you can site the bed where the plants have morning sun and afternoon shade. Since our soils drain so slowly down here where I live, the raised bed is essential, but you wouldn't even need a raised bed if you don't have clay soil. I don't think you're restricted to only growing azaleas in pots unless that is just your preference. I grew them in north central Texas in a raised bed well above grade level in amended black gumbo clay and they were fine, although they required more frequent watering in summer than the rest of our landscape. However, be mindful of the fact that the varieties of azaleas grown for florists may not be the ones most adaptable to our climate. I don't suppose it came with a plant tag that tells you the variety name? Dawn...See Morewhat to do to thicken native azalea canopy
Comments (7)Too much shade makes an azalea grow tall and lanky. More sun makes it grow denser and look better. You can remove some of the branches causing shade to give it more sun. Also, pruning after it blooms will stimulate new growth. Plants in nurseries are usually pruned several times to stimulate new branch growth and give the fuller look....See More- 5 years ago
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