Azalea garden - planting and care in the open ground

In order for a summer cottage or a plot in front of the house to become a place for relaxation and peace, it is worth planting an azalea. The plant is a symbol of female beauty and tenderness. There is an azalea shrub and tree, it all depends on the variety and zone of growth. Belongs to the Vereskov family. It is very popular in Europe and Japan. The second name is rhododendron, it describes the breeding characteristics of the plant.

Azalea garden: planting and care in the open ground

Azalea garden, planting and care in the open ground of which is carried out in accordance with certain rules, can become a real decoration of a summer cottage. For planting in open areas, frost-resistant varieties are mainly chosen. Care consists of proper planting, top dressing, watering, pruning and protection from pests and diseases.

Flowering garden azalea

If all the steps for caring for the rhododendron are carried out in accordance with the recommendations, then it will bloom for a long time. Many gardeners choose a decorative culture because of the unpretentiousness and beauty of the stem. Since azalea prefers shady places, thanks to this it is possible to fill empty spaces in flower beds under trees where other crops cannot grow.

The origin and appearance of the plant

The habitat of the plant is subtropical forests of Central Asia. You can meet a flower in Europe, North America. It got here as a houseplant that blooms in winter. In Japan, they have been breeding azaleas for many centuries, in particular, using the art of bonsai.

Hybrid azalea became widespread in the early 1900s. Nurseries began to be actively filled with different varieties of plants, which were especially fond of the Germans, British and Americans.

There are several options for the crown of different varieties: deciduous, pyramidal, semi-deciduous, ampelous and evergreen. The height of the stems can reach 1.5 m, the smallest specimens are not more than 50 cm. The leaves are glossy, have a tight green color, but are pleasant to the touch. The stem at the very base is tree-like, to the top diverges into green shoots. Distinguish between a perennial and an annual version of the plant, it all depends on the variety.

Many people know one thing, azalea is a bush that is constantly green and blooms profusely for several months in a row.

Plant Flower Descriptions

A separate description is worthy of the flowers of the plant. At the time of active growth, a bush or tree resembles a firework, since there are so many buds that no leaves are visible behind them. The main features of azalea flowers:

• flowering usually lasts 60 days and occurs from April to the end of November;
• the flower may be the most ordinary or double flower bud;
• the colors of the buds can be various: yellow, lilac, lilac, white, gold, dark purple, orange.

The appearance of the flower of one of the varieties of azalea

Florists distinguish several types of flowers. An ordinary bud consists of five petals and as many stamens. Terry forms have many petals, which are obtained even from stamens. "Flower in flower" - 12 petals that form a "cup".

Species and varieties

In nature, there are more than 600 species of plants that have different appearance and nature of flowering. At home, only two are most often found - Indian and Japanese azaleas. This azalea is street and indoor, so there are no fundamentally huge differences between the representatives of the plant.

There are other less common varieties obtained by selection. Differences between them are determined by the timing of flowering, the size and color of the buds. The size of a bush or tree is also a significant distinguishing feature.

The Indian appearance of the plant is characterized by a peculiar appearance of the bush. Flowers have a bright color and a non-standard shape, which distinguishes the decorative culture from the rest of the front garden or flower beds. This variety does not withstand too low temperatures, the maximum is −10 ° C.

Japanese azalea

"Japanese" or, as it is also called, dull azalea, is especially popular among gardeners. A plant variety that roots without any problems in the soil and withstands the negative effects of the external environment. There are several subspecies of dull azalea:

• Melina is a shrubby version with a height of about 50 cm with abundant flowering;
• Kermesina Alba is a low shrub with medium-sized white flowers;
• Petticoat azalea - perennial shrub 50 cm long with pale pink flowers;
• Ledikanense loves dark places, blooms in spring, throwing purple buds.

One of the varieties of Japanese azalea

Azalea Japanese planting and care in the open ground tolerates positively. Japanese azaleas for the garden are used as bonsai. Thanks to the special technique of cultivating the trunk, you can get a unique, visually attractive mini-version of the plant.

Transplantation after purchase in the open ground of azalea garden

Azalea in the garden can appear only in the spring, as sale and transplantation are possible only during this period. You need to make a purchase carefully, it is advisable to pay attention to such nuances:

• the seedling should be in a special container with soil;
• the earth in the container must be moist;
• the germ must be developed and not sluggish;
• there should be more than 10 leaflets on the crown without dry or curled ends.

What you need for landing

Planting azaleas in open ground in spring begins with the selection of a suitable location and preparation of the ground. It is advisable to buy special land in the store, but you can also prepare the substrate yourself. It will take the simplest components: peat, sand and several types of diverse land. The next step will be the preparation and planting of the seedling. At the end, watering is carried out. The whole procedure takes at least half an hour. Careful care within a few days after disembarkation is a prerequisite.

Choosing the best place

So that the plant does not hurt and bloom, you need to choose a suitable place in the garden. It is advisable to plant a specimen at partial shade, since direct sunlight can harm the plant. The ideal option would be a tree shadow with a thick crown. It is advisable to choose places where the fence or fence is far from the bush.

Step-by-step landing process

Bush azalea or woody does not require special conditions for normal planting. It is enough to use an elementary algorithm familiar to every grower. The landing process is carried out in accordance with the following steps:

1. A pit is being prepared. The parameters should be such that the roots are evenly spaced, not bent. A drainage layer should fit at the bottom.
2. Set the seedling exactly in the middle of the pit and sprinkle the roots with the prepared substrate. Do not ram the landing site, let the earth remain loose for better air exchange.
3. Spray the leaves with spray water and moisten the soil in the same way. Watering from a bucket or watering can on the first day is undesirable. Next, you need to monitor the weather conditions.

Preparing a seedling for planting

Planting a flower is not difficult, the main thing is to monitor watering and feed on time. The principle of disembarkation does not differ from the standard procedure. The only difference is that the soil after sprinkling the seedling is not crushed.

Breeding

Reproduction of a decorative shrub or tree consists in a simple process - cuttings. It is almost impossible to grow azalea from seeds, so breeding is done in one way.

Propagation by cuttings

This is the best option for breeding a decorative culture. Propagate the plant with the help of cuttings in spring. The procedure is as follows:

1. Choose a twig, the length of which should be at least 10 cm. An ideal option would be a stalk 12 cm long.
2. At least two large leaves should be present on top of the future seedling. There may be more green elements.
3. Cut the stalk at an acute angle and treat the cut with a special powder.
4. Set a branch in a pot with peat and cover it with a film, creating a greenhouse. Watering is carried out using a spray gun through an opening in the film.
5. After a week, you can begin to lift the film for a few minutes of airing and spraying the soil.

Azalea propagation by cuttings

After rooting, which occurs within two months, you can plant a strong shoot in an open area with partial shade.

Azalea garden care

Azalea garden requires a certain care, which consists in elementary actions:

• setting a clear watering mode. It is necessary to monitor the humidity near the azalea;
• it’s not enough to plant a specimen in good soil; it is worth periodically feeding the soil;
• dry leaves and faded buds should be removed.

Due to the constant problem with watering, many do not want to get involved with this kind of garden culture. But in fact, there are no special difficulties in caring for the specimen.

Watering mode

The plant loves moisture, so you need to follow the exact regime of watering. If azalea is planted on the site, leaving on the street is as follows:

• moisten the soil if the top layer is dry;
• water at least 1 time per day with water with a temperature of more than 20 ° C;
• moisten the leaves with a spray several times a day.

Top dressing

Normal growth is ensured through proper soil preparation from the start. The soil should consist of humus, sand, peat, coniferous, sod and peat land. The proportion of all components is the same.

After a month, it is worth feeding for the first time. It is better to use any fertilizers that are designed for ornamental garden plants. Repeat the procedure after 20-30 days.

Features of care during the flowering period

There are no global rules for leaving during the flowering period of rhododendron. The main thing is to carry out regular and periodic watering. Fertilizing the soil is also necessary so that there are enough minerals to support the life of not only the leaves and the trunk, but also a huge number of buds.

Unique flowering plant care

It is advisable to monitor dry leaves and buds that have already faded. They need to be removed so that the recharge goes to other parts of the plant. Trimming the branches at the time of active growth is not desirable, this can lead to drying and even death of the garden rhododendron.

Features of care at rest

Azalea, care and cultivation in the garden for which has its own nuances, spends a lot of effort on the formation of buds. Flowering sunset is the most important moment, since during this period preparations are made for wintering, new buds are being laid.

It is important at this moment to remove dry leaves and partially sluggish flowers from the branches. You can trim extra branches during this period. This must be done carefully. The secateurs should be sharp, and the branches should be cut at a distance of 15 cm from each other.

More specifically, care for the rhododendron is not necessary during dormancy. You can even stop fertilizing the soil so that the berry does not develop and grow in the cold season. Watering should also be limited, the earth can be moistened with a sprayer.

Winter preparations

Preparation of rhododendron for winter is carried out in accordance with the region of growth. In the more southern parts of the country, there is no need to specially insulate the plant, it will winter on its own, since rhododendron is frost-resistant.

Climatic conditions are more severe in the Moscow Region and Central Russia, as well as in the Urals and Siberia. Wintering must be provided: to insulate the trunk, sometimes you have to bend the branches and also insulate.

Garden azalea can be a real decoration of a flower bed. It blooms profusely for a long time, pleasing the eye with bright buds of different sizes and colors. There are several of the most popular varieties that are frost-resistant and unpretentious in care. Medium frosts will not cause problems if the rhododendron grows in normal enriched soil and receives the necessary care during the period of development and flowering.