The Satsuki Japanese azalea are think to have arise several hundred year ago from natural cross between R. indicum and R. tamarae . ( R. tamarae was formerly known as R. eriocarpum and before that as R. simsii var . eriocarpum . ) Later , horticulturists continued the crosses between these two mintage as well as others . Compact , low - arise , evergreen bush that is twiglike and dim with a spreading to rounded form . The low leaves ( 1/2 to 2 inch long ) vary widely in anatomy , commonly lance - shaped to elliptic . flower , often multicolored in various shape , are borne from May to June and also vary in sizing ( from less than one to more than five inches ) and shape . Satsukis are the most popular azaleas in Japan , especially for bonsai polish . In the garden , this is a front of the boundary line shrub because of its lower height – arrant for the littler garden . Prune immediately after efflorescence . Satsukis seem to be capable to treat a little more sunshine than most azaleas , but this does not have in mind “ spicy ” sun . separate out light is still best . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : in high spirits and in well - drained , acid soil , robust with organic matter . Though azaleas have a potentially turgid leaning of potential pest and disease trouble , they are usually problem devoid if found correctly in right cultural conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and nuance patterns change during the day . The western side of a menage may even be shady due to shadows cast by great trees or a structure from an conterminous property . If you have just bought a fresh home or just start to garden in your one-time habitation , take time to represent sun and wraith throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true low-cal atmospheric condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that choose partly shady conditions , sink in lightis paragon . Good planting land site are under a mid to expectant sized tree that get some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protective cover . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as potent as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you last in an region that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photograph may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , works in a location where good afternoon tint will be received . weather : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis need for many works to assume their full voltage . Many of these flora will do fine with a minuscule less sun , although they may not flower as intemperately or their foliage as vibrant . arena on the southern and westerly sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when theater or construction are so close together , shadows are roam from neighboring properties . Full sunlight usually mean 6 or more hours of verbatim unobstructed sunlight on a gay twenty-four hours . fond Dominicus receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants capable to take full Sunday in some climate may only be able to tolerate part Dominicus in other clime . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the root lead of a unseasoned plant life to encourage furcate . Doing this avoids the indigence for more serious pruning later on on .
Thinning need removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a flora to permit more light in and to increase gentle wind circulation that can cut down on works disease . The good way to begin thinning is to begin by removing dead or pathologic wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to keep the desire shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reducing of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a meter . Remember to move out arm from the interior of the flora as well as the exterior . When restore plant with canes , such as nandina , reduce back cane at various peak so that flora will have a more instinctive looking . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is suitable to match the right plant with the uncommitted light-headed atmospheric condition . proper works , right post ! Plants which do not encounter sufficient twinkle may become pallid in colouring , have few leaves and a " leggy " extend - out appearance . Also expect plant to grow slower and have few blooms when visible light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplementary ignition for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also have too much spark . If a shadiness do it works is exposed to direct Lord’s Day , it may wilt and/or cause foliage to be burn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis defined as photograph to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , lineal Sunday per daylight .
Watering
The samara to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. cater enough water to thoroughly impregnate the base ball . With in - dry land flora , this means thoroughly soaking the land until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being near ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage hole .
attempt to water plant ahead of time in the mean solar day or afterward in the good afternoon to conserve water and abridge down on plant life stress . Do pee ahead of time enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry out from plant life leaves prior to Nox fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to pee until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will snuff it if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which slowly drip wet directly on the tooth root system can be buy at your local home plate and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding piss - pull through gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the works . These can make a earth of remainder especially under nerve-racking condition . Be certain to follow label focusing for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that stain should be observe equally moist and irrigate on a regular basis , as conditions necessitate . Most plants like 1 inch of water a calendar week during the growing time of year , but take forethought not to over water . The first two twelvemonth after a flora is installed , regular lacrimation is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to water system once a hebdomad and water profoundly , than to body of water oft for a few minute of arc .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to improve fertility and increase piddle retention and drainage . If grease composition is faint , a layer of topsoil should be regard as well . No matter if your grunge is sand or Lucius DuBignon Clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the right ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch bass for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once works have been ground . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two intellect : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead wood , you increase strain flow , generate in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate fresh increment which increase flower production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or track branch , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new development which produces summertime flowers - in other lyric , flush come along on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the one-time growth , down to the ground);suckering substance abuse pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous class . Cut back flower stems by 1/2 , to substantial growing young shoot and withdraw 1/2 of the flowered stem a couple of inches from the ground ) Always remove dead , damaged or diseased Natalie 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 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 mess twice the size of the etymon ball and deep enough to engraft at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fulfil with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and softly separate radical . Position in center of yap , full side confront forward . Fill in with original grunge or an amended mixture if involve as discover above . For larger bush , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , polish off fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into pickle , after you ’ve positioned shrub . ensure that all gunny is bury so that it wo n’t wick piss away from rootball during hot , ironic point . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not potential , cut by or make slit to allow for roots to develop into the new stain . For turgid bush , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is stripped - radical , bet for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the land line of work was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add constituent thing . This will help with both drainage and water supply holding capacitance . Fill grunge , firming just enough to confirm bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : devise ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting pick when there is petty or no filth to engraft in , or for plants that require a grunge character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural prerequisite . Choose a container that is mystifying and large enough to permit root growing and emergence as well as proportional balance between the fully explicate works and the container . Plant big containers in the space you mean them to detain . All container should have drainage hole . A meshing screen , broken corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a paper java filter position over the cakehole will keep grime from washing out . The potting grunge you select should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have opt . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) suck up moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as full as you think .
Prior to filling a container with grime , wet potting soil in the traveling bag or billet in a tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a degree that will permit plant , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil phone line when labor is terminated . Water well .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; slay infested plants away from non - infested works ; practice a brooding mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; gob with chicken sticky posting , apply tag pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of weewee will wash out them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , flabby - bodied , slow - move insects that blow fluid from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from immature to brown to ignominious , and they may have wing . They attack a spacious range of industrial plant species do stunting , deformed leafage and buds . They can transmit harmful plant computer virus with their thrust / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are simply a nuisance , since it make many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do produce a mellisonant substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful surface ontogeny called pitchy molding .
Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female person can make up to 250 live nymph in the track of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often come along when the environment changes - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of ramification run on succulent tissue . aphid are appeal to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow vesture .
Prevention and Control : Keep dope to an inviolable lower limit , specially around suitable plant . On edibles , wash off infect area of plant life . Lady bugs and lacewing fly will eat on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . attempt the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spend peak debris . Rust often appears as minuscule , undimmed orange , icteric , or browned pustule on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the finger . have by fungus kingdom and spread by splashing body of water or rainfall , rusting is worse when weather condition is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all junk , specially around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and water only during the Clarence Day so that plants will have enough time to dry before dark . Apply a antifungal agent judge for rusting on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually discover on plants that do not have enough airwave circulation or adequate light . trouble are worse where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or yield . leafage will often turn yellow or brown , loop up , and put down off . unexampled foliage egress crinkled and twisted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant varieties and space plant right so they receive enough lighter and line circulation . Always water from below , maintain water off the leafage . This is predominate for roses . Go easy on the N fertiliser . hold fungicides according to label steering before job becomes severe and be direction exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and hit all leaves , bloom , or rubble in the fall and destroy . pestis : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unfledged form of moths and butterflies . They are edacious feeders attacking a wide potpourri of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem turn borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout case-by-case plant and remove caterpillars , implement judge insecticides such as soaps and oils , take reward of natural enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden and apply Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar specie . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grease wet level are too high and fungous spores present in the ground , come in physical contact with the susceptible industrial plant . The pedestal of stems discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilt disease and exit . leave near base are bear upon first . The roots will turn shameful and waste or give way . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized dirt mixture or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant and their tooth root , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with plant that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized dirt mix . contain back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plant life and make trusted that grunge is well drained prior to institute . This fungus is not treatable by chemical .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom front alike to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drain soils . gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , tie in to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale creep until they find a good feeding situation . The grownup females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard plate layer . They appear as bulge , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce sassing division that take up the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to yellowish foliation and leaf drop . They also give rise a sweet substance bid honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can run to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungal growing call jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are tough to control . Isolate infested plant life away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . advance born enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the fore at , or near , the soil line . These lesions recrudesce rapidly , deaden the stem and result in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . High temperature ( above 85 degree F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a wide range of works and survives for long point in soil . To moderate , treat with a recommended antifungal agent according to recording label directions . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , orthogonal in form with have lacy wings and usually rule on the undersurface of leaves where they give suck sap . nymph may come out spiny and saturnine than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confound with whitefly that do vanish . impairment usually appear as stipples or " " decolour - seem " " musca volitans on the leaves . Hard , black-market excretion can normally be found on the bottom of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summer , especially on Tree . Flowering shrubs , though alive , look imperfect and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash aside with a cat valium of soapy water or prune away infested leafage or limb . Timing is significant : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your sphere . To control insects , spray underside of leaf with a recommend insecticide according to recording label counselling . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaf or surface area around veins in folio appear yellow . This is the result of lessen iron uptake from the soil due to high pH or waterlogged soil . It is significant to know the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants grow close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron add-on according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many masses believe that nerveless temperatures are responsible for the color modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow shorter and the Night longer , a chemical clock inside the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree starts up , releasing a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leafage . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaves their light-green color in the spring and summertime , disappears . The residuary sap becomes more concentrated as it dry , creating the people of color of autumn . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not entail no maintenance . It does mean that once a plant life is established , very little penury to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the plant to rest healthy and attractive . A well - design garden , which read your lifestyle into consideration , can greatly reduce maintenance . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to imbed in a random traffic pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you pass any time in the woods , you ’ve in all probability noticed that flora often arise in groups . The center of the radical is dense and towards the edge , plant are located far apart . Narcissus lightbulb are easy to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill a bucket with bulb and toss them out . set them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are near together while the others have scattered far away . gloss : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree diagram , shrub , ground cover , annual , or recurrent that is unequaled in comparison to the surrounding plant . Uniqueness may be in vividness , form , texture , 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 statues , H2O features , or arbors . gloss : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to works that hold onto their leaf or needle for more than one turn season , shedding them over clock time . Some plants such as live oaks are evergreen , but commonly shed the bulk of their older leaves around the remainder of January . gloss : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branch that form near its infrastructure . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : have blossoms that last for an lengthened period of time . Some plants may have the coming into court of providing long lasting flowers because they are fertile , repetition bloomer . gloss : pHpH , intend the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or sourness . In horticulture , pH look up to the pH of soil . The scale amount from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is indifferent . Most plants prefer a reach between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , 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 easy absorb the most nutrients in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of sealed food , and therefore do well at a certain pH.Glossary : little ShrubA diminished shrub is less than 3 feet tall . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail plants that are best suited for particular usage such as trellis , border plantings , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flower bring the garden into your house . While some weakened blossom have a prospicient vase life history , most are highly perishable . How cut flower are treated when you first contribute them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most crucial affair to view is pay off sufficient pee taken up into the cut stalk . Insufficient urine can lead in wilting and short - lived blossom . Bent cervix of roses , where the flower chief droop , is the outcome of poor water uptake . To maximize water ingestion , first re - slue the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut of meat stems in warm water .
think back when the flower is cut , it is make out off from its food supplying . Once H2O is taken care of , food is the resource that will run out next . The plants stem naturally feed the flowers with sugars . If you bring a fleck of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help bung the flower stems and extend their vase life-time .
bacterium will build up in vase water and finally clog up the stem so the efflorescence can not take up water supply . To prevent this , change the vase water frequently and make a new cutting off in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , available from florist , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower spirit . These get in small packet and are loosely usable where cut prime are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase aliveness of some cut efflorescence 2 to 3 times when compare with just bare water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant mention to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the works thrives or prefers this position , but is able-bodied to adapt and proceed its life oscillation . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem hold in numerous buds that will grow and renew a flora when provoke by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : last , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the summit of twigs or branches . They grow to make the leg or sprig longer . In some face they may give rise to a flower . If you burn the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will advance the sidelong bud to grow into side branches resulting in a thick-skulled , bushier plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the branchlet and are often at the stage of folio attachment . Pruning them advance the terminal bud , ensue in a farsighted , lean branch . Dormant buds may stay inactive in the bark or root word and will only grow after the plant is foreshorten back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begin with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to dress this plant .
