azalea are an extremely popular and gorgeous spring bloom bush . They can be either deciduous ( dropping their leaf in the winter ) , or evergreen ( holding on to their leaves throughout the twelvemonth ) . These beautiful plants do command protection during the winter season – even in area that are frost innocent .

Fall Watering

azalea need to go dormant during the winter season . Therefore , it is important that they harden off before the winter time of year . You should shrink the amount of water that you give your azaleas as the first frost approach ( approximately one calendar month before you anticipate your area to receive its first frost ) . Continue winterizing your azaleas after several frost by watering the dirt once again ; this should be done before the weather wholly changes over to the winter ’s prolonged cold . This leave equal moisture during the frequent temperature change of the winter time of year ( warmer and moth-eaten day ) .

Pruning

Part of the winterizing procedure also include rationalize your azalea bushes ( both deciduous and evergreen azaleas ) . Deciduous and evergreen shrubs should be trimmed back to improve the conformation and sizing of the plant and also to slay any broken or pathological branch .

Mulch

Mulching around the foundation of the shrubs will provide protection and maintain the wet of the soil . Mulch should be just about 2 inches in deepness and be spread down from the base of the flora outwards to embrace the underlying root area . you may use cedar , cypress or hardwood mulch . You may also pick out to protect your azaleas with evergreen plant limb or straw .

Burlap Cover

A covering of burlap will also facilitate to protect your bush . This is mostly used in areas where the shrubs are discover to extremely cold wintertime temperature and fluctuating temperatures . you could cover them completely with a gunny sack , or you may pick out to put several stakes around the perimeter of the works and position the burlap around the stakes – covering the exterior of the shrub , thus protect it from abrasive winter wind .

Winter Leaf Discoloration

Some azaleas may modernise colour leaves during recent wintertime . This is no suit for alarm system – it appear bad than it is . discolouration can be yellow leave or reddish - brownish leaves . The discoloration is due to a atomic number 7 lack . To avoid this condition the plants should be lightly fertilized in late fall . Caution should be take in fertilizing at this clock time . give around half of what you would normally feed your azaleas with your regular fertiliser , which should comprise atomic number 7 . Water the shrubs thoroughly after the fertilizer lotion .

References

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