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Cut azaleas back


Bring Out the Best in Your Azaleas and Rhododendron

David Yost, Merrifield Plant Specialist

Summer is almost here, and our beautiful azaleas and rhododendron are done or almost done blooming. This is the perfect time to prune your plants to increase fullness, promote overall health, and encourage a beautiful bloom in the upcoming year. Azaleas and rhododendron both respond well to pruning, and if done right, the plants will produce more blooms in a concentrated form next year.

For many of us, pruning back our prized shrubs can be a daunting task. Before you begin, analyze your goals and objectives for the task. Most people prune to manage the shape and size of their shrubs. Here are a few simple tips to assist you in preparing your plants for a full and beautiful bloom next year.

The best time to prune is at the end of your plants’ bloom cycle. 

Rhododendron before pruning

Rhododendron after pruning

Your azaleas and rhododendron will set their buds for next year by the end of August. To avoid cutting off next year’s blooms, trim your plant soon after the current blooms fade. For most of us, this will be now or in the next couple of weeks. I recommend completing your pruning project by the fourth of July holiday.

The correct tools make a difference.

For the sake of the plant—and your hands—you will want to make sure that you have both hand pruners and a pruning saw. Hand pruners work well for limbs under ¾ inch in diameter. If you use your hand pruners on limbs larger than that, you run the risk of ruining your pruners and mangling the branches of your plant. For the best results, switch to your pruning saw for all branches over ¾ inch in diameter. Also, before you begin pruning, clean your pruners and pruning saw with rubbing alcohol to ensure they are free of any contaminants that may harm your shrubs.

Prioritize dead branches for removal.

Before you begin shaping your plant, check it for dead branches. Unhealthy branches pose a risk to your plant’s overall health by increasing its exposure to infection and bugs. Dead branches will have no living leaves or new growth. It’s best to remove these first. Use your pruners or pruning saw to remove any dead branches, and remember to clean your pruners before moving on to complete additional pruning on your plant.

After you remove the dead branches, prune away overgrown branches to bring the plant to the size and shape you wish to achieve. Cut just above the node where branches separate with your hand pruners.

Beware of over trimming rhododendron. 

Azaleas respond well to pruning and even thrive with a major trim, provided you prune the plant before it sets its buds for next year. If your azalea is overgrown and needs a significant pruning, you can continue trimming branches as far down the plant as needed.

Rhododendron, however, prefer a light pruning rather than a heavy trimming. Remove dead blooms from your rhododendron plant, then prune lightly, using selective thinning to lightly prune the plant. If your rhododendron is overgrown, you can remove half the stems from the next older layer of the plant (below the one you just pruned). Save the second half for the following year. If your rhododendron are very overgrown, it may take a few years to prune your plants to a desirable height.

For even better blooms next year fertilize your plant after pruning.

After pruning I recommend fertilizing your plant to promote growth and increased blooms next year. You can use the Merrifield Flowering Plant Food or Holly Tone if you’re looking for an organic option.

Understand common issues and how to treat them.

When your azalea plant blooms during damp, rainy weather it may suffer from a common, but preventable, fungal infection: Ovulinia petal blight. If dead blooms remain on your azalea when you begin pruning, this fungal infection is the cause. To enable the blooms to fall off the plant before the bloom cycle ends and extend the bloom time of your plant next year, try spraying your plant with fungicide just before the bloom cycle begins next year. We recommend using Bonide Infuse.

Another common problem is caused by tiny insects called lace bugs. These critters may feed on your azaleas and rhododendron during the summer months. You’ll know if you have a lace bug problem as they suck the sap and bleach the color from your foliage causing the leaves to turn a yellowish-white color. You can also see these tiny bugs on the underside of the leaf if you flip the leaf over.

I recommend using Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed to treat these bugs if you encounter them. This product is a systemic drench control product that you put into the soil for the plant to absorb through the roots. One application will last all season. Apply this about once every three years to keep the lace bugs under control.

How to prune azaleas: to keep them healthy and beautiful

(Image credit: Getty Images / twomeows)

Learning how to prune azaleas is easy and worthwhile. You will be rewarded with healthy plants that continue to bring color to your garden. 

Azaleas are popular flowering shrubs in the rhododendron family. They are prized for their wide range of hues, including warm oranges and cool and tranquil pale pinks. 

It is easy to grow azaleas and to take care of them, making them a very popular choice for gardeners. They can be prone to some disease though, so knowing when to plant azaleas and regular pruning is a great way to ensure that your plant stays healthy. 

When learning how to prune azaleas, you must first consider that there are two different types. It is therefore important to ascertain which type you have, so that you get the pruning correct. 

It is just as important to know when to leave azaleas alone and not prune. Taking the time to acquaint yourself with the practices using this simple guide will keep your azaleas beautiful year after year and a worthy addition to your flower bed ideas. 

How to prune azaleas of different types

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Teresa Kopec)

Azaleas have large showy flowers that cover the plant in spring. They are tolerant of some shade and add a huge burst of color in spring to any border, so are a good choice as shrubs for shade. 

Before you can know how to prune azaleas, determine which of the two types of these flowering shrubs you have. Although they are part of the same family, there are differences from how to prune rhododendron:

Once you have determined whether your plant is deciduous or an evergreen shrub, you can then focus on how to prune azaleas.

Deciduous azaleas only need to be lightly pruned to remove diseased or damaged stems.

Evergreen azaleas, so long as they are placed in the correct position with the right soil type, and are well tended to according to the conditions in your hardiness zone, only need pruning either to remove dead wood, or reduce their size if they are starting, for example, to grow over a pathway.

'The first rule of pruning evergreen azaleas is to select the right varieties in the first place and plant them where they will do what you want without a lot of pruning,' is the advice from The American Rhododendron Society .

Pruning azaleas step by step

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Jacky Parker)

Azaleas have been popular since the days of Victorian garden design – and it's easy to see why with their beautiful blooms. Follow these steps for pruning azaleas t keep them looking their best:

'When pruning back, try to leave some leaves on the shoot, as you will get better branching from the buds near the leaves,' advise the experts at rhododendron and azalea specialists Millais Nurseries .

(Image credit: Getty Images / Cyndi Monaghan)

How and when should azaleas be pruned?

How and when you should prune azaleas will depend on the type that you have, and its condition. Using this guide, you can identify the type of azalea that you have and apply the correct pruning regime.  

You should lightly 'prune evergreen azaleas immediately after the blooms have faded in spring', advise the experts ay Wilson Bros Gardens .

Azaleas can be lightly pruned after flowering to remove any diseased material.

You should not prune evergreen azaleas at the end of summer or in fall, 'because you want to avoid cutting off fall-produced flower buds that will be next spring's blooms,' they continue.

Pruning azaleas should therefore stop by mid-summer. Heavy pruning of azaleas should be done in late winter and early spring – see tips on rejuvenation pruning below.

(Image credit: Getty Images / Photos by R A Kearton)

How often should you trim azaleas?

'Regular light pruning of azaleas after flowering can dramatically improve the habit of a misshapen azalea plant over the course of a few seasons,' advise the experts at Millais Nurseries.

It may also be necessary to control azaleas which are taking up too much space next to a drive or a path, especially if they have been included as shrubs for the front of the house.

(Image credit: Mtreasure/Getty Images)

How far back can you trim an azalea?

How far back you can trim an azalea will depend on how large and old it is.

A plant that is in good condition may require little or no pruning. If you want your plant to grow large, especially if it is a shrub for privacy, avoid pruning it too much, and just stay on top of any diseased-looking material. 

If it is a scraggly azalea or has grown out of control, 'sometimes radical action and heavy pruning is required,' says the experts at Millais Nurseries. 'But there are no half measures and it will open up a large hole in the landscape.' 

A plant that has grown too large, particularly if you're trying to develop a bonsai tree type, or is starting to look unkempt, can be pruned back hard to re-establish its shape and to keep it under control. But bear in mind it may not flower the following year. This will be worth it, though, if an old shrub past its best is then transformed back into a young, healthy and well-shaped azalea in future years. So don’t be afraid to take drastic action when required.

(Image credit: Getty Images / Keith Getter)

How do you prune azaleas to rejuvenate?

How to prune azaleas to rejuvenate them if they are overgrown or old is to give them a new lease of life with a harsh trim.

Rejuvenation pruning azaleas should be done in 'late winter or early spring,' explain the experts at Miracle-Gro . 'You'll have a year without flowers when you do this,' they add.

You can also 'spread the rejuvenation pruning of azaleas out over several seasons,' advise the experts at Wilson Bros Gardens , pruning some of the plant each year. This will maintain some of the blooms and will feel less daunting.

This more gradual approach is done over a three-year period, as follows:

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Can azaleas be pruned back hard?

You can prune azaleas back hard, but it may affect their ability to produce flowers the following year. This course of action might be necessary, however, to stop one from taking over your bed or border, and stop it crowding or shadowing other plants. 

How hard you cut an azalea back will depend on how large and how old it is. Larger, older azaleas can be cut back harder than smaller plants.  

(Image credit: Getty Images / Teresa Kopec)

Will azaleas grow back if cut down?

Azaleas will grow back if cut down with the method used for rejuvenation pruning, as above. You need to make sure that you do this at the correct time of year, in late winter or early spring, before the growing season, so that the plant will produce new growth.

Azaleas are fairly fast growing shrubs, and the plant should have grown to a nice shape and produce lots of beautiful blooms within about three years after this manner of extreme pruning.

This feature was created by H&G sister brand, Period Living magazine

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Rachel is senior content editor, and writes and commissions gardening content for homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors.  She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories. Rachel then moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens.

how and when to do it right at home, is it necessary after flowering, as well as the nuances of care and photos of indoor rhododendron Dacha expert

Azalea is one of the ornamental shrubs. Belongs to the heather family. In the wild, this plant is found in some areas of Europe, as well as Asia and North America.

It gained great popularity in the twentieth century, and is grown in special nurseries and botanical gardens. It is in great demand because of the beautiful flowering. This plant is quite finicky, but only during flowering. In this article, we will show a photo of a beautifully “trimmed” rhododendron and tell you when and how to properly prune this plant, whether it can be done after flowering, and what further care should be at home. nine0005

Show content

  • What is pruning and why does indoor rhododendron need it?
  • When is it recommended?
  • How to trim after flowering?
  • How many times a year is the procedure required?
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Possible mistakes and how to avoid them
  • Photo
  • Aftercare at home
  • Related video:

    • What is pruning and why does an indoor rhododendron need it? nine0030

    Pruning in plants is the main procedure. This is done so that the plant is healthy and does not hurt.

    It is necessary to prune almost all types of plants that are fertile. Pruning for plants is very important, because it is thanks to it that you can regulate the size and growth of the plant. In addition, there is the possibility of correcting and changing the shape and the ability to influence the fruiting processes and the qualities of already ripening fruits. There are several types of pruning. nine0003

    Help! It is not necessary to remove all branches, but only those that are sufficiently extended. Before you start pruning an azalea, you should check with the lunar calendar.

    This plant can be not only cut, but also pinched. This is done so that the plant grows and develops better, in order to be able to adjust the shape of the azalea. This is also done so that the plant has many flower buds.

    When is it recommended?

    Proper pruning of the plant is necessary for the azalea flowers to grow and develop faster, as well as to bloom well and intensively. Pruning should only be done after the plant has finished flowering.

    Since the Azalea blooms from the end of autumn to the end of spring, the pruning procedure can be started from the beginning of June. In addition, at this time, the plant has a dormant period.

    Under no circumstances should the plant be pruned during flowering. nine0003

    How to trim after flowering?

    Only the long shoots of the plant need to be pruned after flowering, if they reach the middle of the other shoots and are densely growing. In addition, there is a need to trim weak or diseased shoots.

    How many times a year is the procedure required?

    Azaleas should be pruned once a year, otherwise there is no need for pruning. It can be carried out before flowering only if some of the shoots start to hurt, grow poorly, or if pests appear on them. nine0003

    Step-by-step instructions

    1. Preparing instruments . To trim this plant, a knife is used, which will be very well sharpened, but a pruner is best suited for this procedure. In any case, the knife or pruner must be treated with a solution that contains 70 to 90 percent alcohol.
    2. Choice of cutting location . The cut point of the plant can be anywhere, as you can adjust the shape to your taste. Therefore, there is not much difference. nine0012
    3. Section of a plant part. First you need to remove the largest and largest branches. To make the plant beautiful, it is better to give it a shape in the form of a ball. Some gardeners remove shoots in the middle of the plant, particularly those that grow inside the bush.

      Next, already diseased and weak azalea shoots are removed. To determine which plant shoots are weak and which are not, you need to look at the leaves of the azalea. If there are no buds on the leaves, there should be two or one on healthy shoots. If there are many buds on a leaf, then they will be an obstacle in obtaining other leaves of sunlight. nine0003

      Too much pruning will harm the plant itself and it will hurt for a long time. Also, with strong pruning, the azalea will not be able to bloom, since it simply will not have the strength to do so.

      Attention! Weak pruning of a plant can also greatly harm it. As a result of such pruning, the azalea will release only a small number of inflorescences.

    4. Finishing the cut . After pruning, it is imperative to disinfect those parts of the plant where the pruning procedure was carried out. For disinfection, you can use a special paste for this, called "RANNET". It will help save the plant from pathogens. In addition, it will help in the rapid growth of leaves and twigs. nine0012

    Possible mistakes and how to avoid them

    Plants should be pruned at least once a year. There are twelve most common mistakes in pruning shrubs:

    1. Pruning only those branches that are broken or cracked. The main mistake here is that there is an opinion that if you remove only dry and cracked branches, then everything will be fine. But this is not the case and it is necessary to delete the entire branch.
    2. Large leaf growth. nine0035 Stems and branches should not be allowed to grow, as this may cause problems with flowering, since the plant will not receive enough light.

      In addition, due to the lack of sun, especially if it grows in the shade, pests and diseases can appear. Therefore, too little pruning can also harm the plant.

    3. Inaccurate and incorrect bud pruning. This cutting is the most difficult, since there is a high probability of making a mistake with the angle at which the cut will be made, with the height of the cut. You can accidentally hook the bark and burrs can form on it. nine0002 To carry out such pruning correctly, it is necessary to attach a knife from the base and to the top of the shoot from the side of the branch that is opposite to the kidney. The cutting angle must not exceed 45 degrees.

      In order for the shoot not to dry out, in no case should a stump be left.

    4. Poorly sharpened tool. Common pruning tools include pruning shears, secateurs, saws and hacksaws. If they are poorly sharpened, then it will simply not be possible to carry out the trimming process without damaging the bark. Such tools will leave injuries to plants, torn and pointed scars. In addition, a person can inflict injury on himself. nine0002 Poorly sharpened power tools are especially dangerous.

    5. Trims only those branches that are outside. If the center of the plant is too dense, then problems such as: Disease and pests of the plant may arise as a result. Only one or two main shoots should be in the center, they will be quite enough. Now the plant will receive the amount of light and air it needs.
    6. Many competing shoots. nine0035 Most often, the plant produces several main shoots at once. Thus, they begin to fight for vital resources and nutrients. Because of this, the entire plant weakens and may even die. Therefore, you should remove all these shoots and leave the most hardy ones. Others are best shortened by 35 percent.

      Shoots that do not grow well or are diseased should be removed first.

    7. Kidney damage. To avoid damaging the buds in any way while cutting the shoots, the pruner must be placed at the correct angle for cutting. To begin with, the largest and longest branches are removed, and then the small ones. nine0002 Tip! First of all, you need to delete external, and then internal branches.

    8. Not pruning blind shoots. Blind shoots are those without flowers. Also, the shoots must be removed to the lowest kidney.
    9. A plant disease that has not been cured in time. If old shoots are not removed during pruning, diseases such as:
      • rust;
      • powdery mildew;
      • spotting; nine0012
      • mold.
    10. Lots of trimmed flowering shoots.
    11. Unsuitable cutting tool. If you need to cut 6 centimeters, then you should choose a saw, and if you need to cut only 2 centimeters, then you can use a pruner or garden shears.
    12. Untimely pruning of the plant. If you do not prune in time, the plant begins to dry, hurt and rot.

    Picture

    See what an indoor rhododendron looks like after pruning.

    Aftercare at home

    After the pruning procedure, care for the azalea should continue the same as before.

    For this procedure to be successful, all the features of this plant should be taken into account. In order to know them well, you need to carefully monitor your plant (you can find out about the optimal home conditions for azalea here). Only in this case it will delight everyone around with its flowering for a long time. nine0003

    Video on the topic:

    Watch the video on how to cut off the azale:

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