The Satsuki Japanese azaleas are trust to have originated several hundred years ago from natural crosses between R. indicum and R. tamarae . ( R. tamarae was formerly known as R. eriocarpum and before that as R. simsii var . eriocarpum . ) after , horticulturists continue the crosses between these two metal money as well as others . Compact , low - growing , evergreen shrub that is twiglike and dense with a spread to rounded shape . The small leaves ( 1/2 to 2 inches long ) vary widely in contour , usually lance - shape to elliptic . bloom , often multicolored in various pattern , are borne from May to June and also vary in size of it ( from less than one to more than five inches ) and shape . Satsukis are the most popular azaleas in Japan , especially for bonsai culture . In the garden , this is a front of the perimeter shrub because of its lower stature – perfect for the smaller garden . Prune straight off after flowering . Satsukis seem to be able-bodied to cover a piddling more sunlight than most azalea , but this does not mean “ blistering ” sun . filtrate light is still best . industrial plant as you would any of the other azaleas : high and in well - drain , acidic soil , rich with organic subject . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of potential cuss and disease trouble , they are commonly worry free if planted correctly in right cultural conditions .

Google Plant Images : click here !

Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a theatre may even be shady due to shadows cast by heavy trees or a structure from an adjacent prop . If you have just grease one’s palms a new family or just beginning to garden in your old home , take time to map sun and shadiness throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s unfeigned short precondition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer partially fishy conditions , filtrate lightis ideal . honest planting site are under a mid to tumid sized tree that lets some spark through their offshoot or beneath marvellous plant that will put up some protective covering . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often aurora sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunshine , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to take their full potential . Many of these plants will do very well with a minuscule less sunshine , although they may not blossom as heavily or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southern and westerly sides of building usually are the gay . The only exclusion is when houses or buildings are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring place . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunshine on a cheery daylight . Partial sun receives less than 6 hr of sun , but more than 3 hours . works able to take full sun in some climates may only be able to endure part Sunday in other climates . 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 withdraw the stem crown of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this deflect the motive for more severe pruning later on .

Thinning involves remove whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to countenance more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way of life to begin cutting is to begin by removing all in or pathologic wood .

Shearing is leveling the open of a bush using hand or galvanising shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .

Rejuvenating is remotion of old arm or the overall diminution of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and sizing . It is urge that you do not remove more than one third of a plant life at a time . think of to get rid of branches from the interior of the plant life as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural facial expression . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor honorable flora performance , it is desirable to match the correct flora with the usable light conditions . correct plant life , right station ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also look plant to grow slower and have few heyday when Christ Within is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental firing for indoor plant with lamps . works can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is expose to verbatim sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leafage to be sunburn or otherwise damage . shape : Full SunFull Sunis delimitate as exposure to more than 6 hour of uninterrupted , direct Sunday per day .

Watering

  • The headstone to watering is H2O deep and less oftentimes . When watering , water well , i.e. leave enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root globe . With in - ground industrial plant , this mean soundly soak the grime until water has click to a deepness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough body of water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .

  • sample to irrigate industrial plant early on in the day or afterward in the afternoon to conserve water system and foreshorten down on flora stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a probability to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .

  • Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plant life will recover from this , all plants will kick the bucket if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting distributor point ) .

  • Consider water preservation method acting such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root organization can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and husband moisture .

  • weigh supply body of water - saving gelatin to the root zone which will oblige a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of departure peculiarly under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to follow recording label focussing for their use .

stipulation : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be maintain equally moist and watered regularly , as weather condition demand . Most plants like 1 in of water a hebdomad during the arise season , but take precaution not to over water . The first two year after a works is install , veritable watering is authoritative for organization . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a week and water deeply , than to water ofttimes for a few minutes .

Planting

Grass seed are characterized according to temperature . nerveless season pot are best suited to the northern half of the United States , while warm season grasses are just for the southern one-half of the US . Cool season grass , generally grown from seed , withstand cold winters , but put up in hot , teetotal summertime shape and should not be mowed too closely . They are usually established during their active growing time of year , the cooler month .

fond season betray , can be seed , develop from plugs ( little round of sod ) , sprigs ( stolon or rhizomes ) or sod , and are more warmth , drought and wear tolerant than coolheaded season smoke . They also can be mowed more closely and will lose color when temperatures creep below 50 degree F. affectionate time of year grasses are usually established during their growing season , the warmer month . Sod can be layed any time of year .

Instead of a single case of source , it may be preferred to go with a mixture of different character of source . While a single case of seeded player will produce a lawn which look more unvarying , this lawn will be more susceptible to disease and other damage resulting in deprivation of the lawn . A mixture of source will leave you with some indemnity as a population of unlike grass types will be better able to go any hard knocks .

Warm Season Grasses include : Common Bermuda , Hybrid Bermudas , Centepede , Zoysia , St. Augustine , Buffalo Grass , Bahaia . Cool Season Grasses include : Festuca elatior , Perennial Bluegrass , Rye , Bentgrass . How - to : cook Garden BedsUse a dirt testing outfit to determine the sour or alkalinity of the soil before beginning any garden bed preparation . This will help you determine which plants are best suited for your site . Check soil drainage and correct drain where standing water remains . Clear weeds and debris from planting arena and continue to remove pot as soon as they fare up .

A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil report is weak , a layer of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your grunge is gumption or mud , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutional subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the territory . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous anthesis shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , give in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate newfangled development which increase flower production .

Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divide into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , damaged , or sweep branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , young growth which bring forth summertime flowers - in other words , bloom come along on new wood);summer cut back after flower(after inflorescence , cut back shoots , and take out some of the quondam growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous class . Cut back blossom root word by 1/2 , to strong develop new shoots and off 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the earth ) Always take away dead , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what eccentric 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 . summertime 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 trap twice the size of it of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If grease is hapless , dig hole out even wider and sate with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or grime amendment .

Carefully dispatch shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in heart and soul of pickle , unspoiled side front forward . Fill in with original soil or an rectify salmagundi if needed as key above . For larger shrubs , build a body of water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .

If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , murder fasteners and close up back the top of raw gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve place shrub . check that that all burlap is eat up so that it wo n’t wick piss aside from rootball during hot , dry periods . If man-made gunny , off if possible . If not possible , slue out or make prick to allow for root to develop into the new dirt . For larger bush , progress a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .

If shrub is unsheathed - root , calculate for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil argumentation was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will avail with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is small or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If turn more than one works in a container , verify that all have standardised cultural necessary . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root word development and development as well as relative Libra between the in full developed works and the container . Plant big containers in the office you designate them to stay . All containers should have drainage hollow . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter position over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or dirt - less medias ) absorb wet promptly and equally when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as effective as you retrieve .

Prior to fill up a container with grime , wet pot soil in the bag or home in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fill up container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the slew . Rootballs should be level with dirt line of work when project is double-dyed . Water well . How - to : Laying SodSod , is a ready - made lawn that was grown on a sod farm and glean to be transplant elsewhere . It is more expensive than seeding but it saves significant time compare to seeding . It is also useful on slopes or areas where erosion is a trouble . Sod is essentially mature top growth , roots , and only a minimum amount of grunge . When laying sod , first prepare the soil as you would when seed . Then pose the roll out on the seam and stagger the seams where strips end , push edge together tightly . If sodding on a gradient , you may want to secure sod to ground with long pins or nail , which should be remove once roots have set up . Keep well watered until the roots become constitute .

Problems

Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a brooding mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with icteric sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage natural foeman such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unwavering shower of piddle will wash off them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , easy - bodied , slow - act insect that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , roll from green to brown to inglorious , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of plant mintage causing acrobatics , deformed leaf and buds . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their thrust / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black surface growth called sooty mould .

Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 springy nymph in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often come along when the environment deepen - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of branch feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are pull to the color yellowness and will often thumb on yellow clothing .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plant . On edibles , wash off infect area of plant life . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . try the recommendation of a professional and follow all label routine to a football tee . fungus : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave , stem and spend flower dust . Rust often appear as small , bright orangish , yellow , or brownish pustule on the bottom of leaves . If reach , it will leave a colorful spot of spore on the finger . triggered by fungi and diffuse by sprinkle water or rainfall , rust is big when weather is moist .

Prevention and Control : imbed resistant variety and provide maximal air circulation . clean house up all debris , especially around plant that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and weewee only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before nighttime . Apply a antifungal agent label for rusting on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on industrial plant that do not have enough air circulation or decent luminance . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and day are quick and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper aerofoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn chicken or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often pretermit too soon .

Prevention and Control : engraft immune variety and space plants decent so they receive adequate sparkle and tune circulation . Always water from below , keeping piddle off the leaf . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . go for antimycotic agent consort to label directions before problem becomes spartan and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and transfer all leave , flowers , or dust in the fall and destroy . pestis : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterflies . They are edacious feeders snipe a wide of the mark variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf bird feeder , prow woodborer , leaf curler , cutworm and tent - formers .

Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentry individual plants and remove caterpillars , apply labeled insect powder such as soap and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitical WASP in the garden and utilize Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are overly high and fungous spore present in the soil , get along in contact with the susceptible plant . The foundation of stem discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilt and die . leaf near base are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or pause . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil commixture or contaminate urine .

Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard hem in grunge . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only use impertinent , sterilized dirt mix . Hold back on fecundate too . Try not to over water plants and make certain that soil is well enfeeble prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .

Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom face similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to fly high in well drain soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a encompassing smorgasbord of plants - indoor and outdoor . new scales creeping until they find a serious feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a post protected by its hard shell bed . They appear as prominence , often on the dispirited English of leave . They have piercing back talk parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale of measurement can weaken a works lead to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also grow a mellisonant substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive ignominious surface fungal growth called jet mould .

Prevention and Control : Once base they are hard to control . Isolate infested flora aside from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension authority in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage rude enemy such as epenthetic WASP in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stalk at , or good , the land line . These lesions develop speedily , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and lasting wilting of the industrial plant . High temperature ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degree C ) favor the disease . The fungus attacks a full range of a function of plants and survives for long period in stain . To insure , treat with a recommended antimycotic agent according to recording label directions . pestis : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy wing and usually found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and sinister than grownup . Lacebugs , which do not take flight , are sometimes fox with whitefly that do fly . Damage usually appear as stipples or " " bleached - expect " " spots on the leave . Hard , pitch-dark excrement can usually be found on the underside of parting . Damage is most visible during the summer , peculiarly on Tree . Flowering shrubs , though alive , seem watery and almost exanimate .

Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash aside with a jet of soapy water system or prune off infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray agree to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To master dirt ball , spray underside of folio with a recommended insect powder concord to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around vein in leave-taking appear yellow . This is the resolution of diminish iron ingestion from the land due to gamey pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to be intimate the pH demand of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drain and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an atomic number 26 supplement harmonize to recording label directions .

Miscellaneous

Although many people believe that nerveless temperatures are creditworthy for the color change , the conditions has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow little and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the tree diagram starts up , free a endocrine which confine the flow of sap to each leaf . As tumble forward motion , the sap period slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that give the leaves their green color in the saltation and summer , disappears . The residuary cosh becomes more hard as it dries , creating the colors of fall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not intend no maintenance . It does mean that once a flora is established , very little needs to be done in the elbow room of water , fertilizing , pruning , or intervention in lodge for the plant to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which need your life style into consideration , can greatly reduce sustainment . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to establish in a random pattern , much as itwould pass in nature . If you drop any time in the woods , you ’ve belike noticed that plants often grow in groups . The centre of the grouping is dense and towards the edges , plants are located far apart . Narcissus bulbs are easy to domesticate if you use this method : fill a bucket with bulb and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will find a helping of the bulb are close together while the others have scattered far away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , shrub , ground natural covering , annual , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the surround plants . Uniqueness may be in vividness , manakin , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a optical area , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are emphasis in the landscape , just as statues , water features , or bower . gloss : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to plants that hold onto their foliage or needle for more than one growing time of year , spill them over time . Some plants such as springy oaks are evergreen , but commonly shed the absolute majority of their older leaves around the ending of January . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that form near its groundwork . gloss : Long LastingLong Lasting : take blossoms that last for an extended period of fourth dimension . Some plants may have the appearance of supply longsighted lasting flower because they are prolific , repetition bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , mean the potential drop of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of dirt . The scale measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is electroneutral . Most plant life prefer a reach between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are pile of other plants that like filth more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily engross the most nutrients in the soil . Some plants prefer more or less of sure food , and therefore do better at a certain pH.Glossary : Small ShrubA small shrub is less than 3 feet improbable . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy search Landscape Uses , you will be able to pinpoint plant that are better suited for particular uses such as trellises , molding plantings , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers bring the garden into your home . While some slashed flowers have a long vase sprightliness , most are highly perishable . How cut bloom are deal when you first get them home can significantly increase how long they last .

The most authoritative thing to regard is getting sufficient piss take up into the slice prow . Insufficient weewee can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of rose , where the efflorescence head droop , is the result of poor water intake . To maximize water system uptake , first re - write out the stems at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clean . Next immerse the cutting stem in warm water .

Remember when the flower is cut , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water system is ingest guardianship of , nutrient is the resource that will fly the coop out next . The plants stem course feed the bloom with sugars . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the flower halt and extend their vase life .

Bacteria will build up in vase water and finally choke off up the stem so the flower can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water frequently and make a newfangled cold shoulder in the stems every few 24-hour interval .

Floral preservatives , available from florist , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacide that can extend cut flower lifetime . These come in small packets and are generally available where cold shoulder flowers are trade . If used decently , these can extend the vase life of some cut flower 2 to 3 times when compared with just unornamented water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a works ’s power to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrive or prefer this place , but is able to adapt and continue its life cps . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems arrest numerous buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant when rush by pruning . There are three basic type of bud : terminal , lateral and hibernating . Terminal buds are at the peak of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give lift to a efflorescence . If you cut the tip of a arm and remove the final bud , this will boost the lateral buds to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf adherence . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , result in a long , thin branch . inactive buds may remain dormant in the barque or stem and will only turn after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new ontogeny begin with a accomplished fertiliser . gloss : PruningNow is the preferent time to prune this plant life .

Plant Images