Rejuvenate Old Azaleas
Azaleas are well-known for their impressive vibrant blooms. If timed right, you can even have azaleas blooming eight months out of the year. This flower grows rapidly within one season and will fill in with blooms relatively quickly once spring comes. However, if not pruned regularly, azaleas can become overgrown and begin to lose their luster. Older azaleas often have long bare branches and bare spots. With some easy pruning techniques and care, your old azaleas will become brilliant once again.
Instructions
1. Put on garden gloves to prevent blisters while pruning your old azaleas.
2. Inspect your azaleas for long bare limbs. Cut all bare limbs off with hand shears. If a limb has a new shoot coming off of it, cut the limb at a 45-degree angle after the shoot.
3. Decide how tall you want your azaleas to be. Cut back all larger limbs above the height you wish the bush to be with your hand shears. Cut all limbs at a 45-degree angle. Decide how wide you wish your shrub to be. Again, cut back all larger limbs outside the width you wish your azaleas to be with your hand shears.
4. Inspect the azalea bush for any diseased or dead twigs. Use your pruners to cut off any dead or dying twigs or limbs. Cut all twigs and limbs at a 45-degree angle.
5. Regularly prune your azaleas after they bloom. Inspect the bush weekly for any new shoots that need to be removed. Also look for any signs of disease, and remove these limbs as well. This will encourage more growth next season.
Tags: your azaleas, 45-degree angle, hand shears, back larger, back larger limbs