How and When to Prune Encore Azaleas - With Tips for Sun and Shade

[@valkerry24]

Thanks! Great instructions. You've made me feel less afraid of tackling them. Actually looking forward to it!

[@pontiacw7]

That azalea garden in Raleigh is nice. I hope to build up small garden like that in a woody area near my home over time.

[@8helenjhouston8]

Very helpful Jim! Thanks for your attention to detail!!! I learn something from your channels each day!

[@wadeandhaleygilpin9702]

Thanks Jim! That was real helpful!

[@ttoch684]

Thank you for making this video.

[@joncrunk598]

Great video...Thanks, Jim!!

[@TheParot161]

I live in eastern Tennessee. My encore azaleas are planted in pretty heavy shade. They bloomed a little bit in the spring, and then went nuts with the blooming along about September. They are a little spindly, but beautiful. My question is, does being planted in the shade reduce the number of blooms versus being planted in the sun? And thank you for the excellent video! So happy to hear someone say, I don’t stress about this. I have watched way too many plant care videos where people obviously were stressing. For example, I’ve watched videos about how to take care of angel hair ferns. I don’t do anything to mine but cut them back once a year and buying large they’ve done great.

[@Encoreazalea]

So glad you are finding our videos helpful! Encore Azaleas will bloom less in shade, or grow to be more leggy. We suggest 4-6 hours of sun!

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

Thanks Jim❣️

[@brutusadmirer8043]

Most azaleas in 4-5 hours full, mid-day sun will be prone to lacebugs. So there is a bit of a conflict with planting many of the remontant azaleas in as much sun as they want to fall bloom well. Additionally, planted in that much sun will melt the Aug. and Sept. blooms. 2 or 3 hours morning sun or very high, light shade would be optimal.

[@Encoreazalea]

Thanks for the advice! We're glad many of the Encore Azaleas have shown in studies to be lace bug resistant, however, you are correct that plants that are stressed are more susceptible to those pesky critters!

[@brutusadmirer8043]

@@Encoreazalea Several of the coriaceous or leathery-leaved cultivars like Autumn Twist, Royalty, and Sangria do seem admirably lace bug resistant, yet interestingly those 3 (& Moonlite) fall bloom decently when planted in light shade (the normal azalea way). I think one of the best for more sun is Amethyst, because of its bloom times. Is there another Encore that tends to bloom late fall and early spring like Amethyst?

[@Encoreazalea]

@@brutusadmirer8043 yes! Usually if a variety blooms heavily in the late fall it does not bloom heavily in the early spring. However, Ivory, Carnation and Fire bloom well in both fall and spring.

[@marysmith9083]

I planted 10 Autumn Carnival in front yard, they will get sun all day, will this variety have a problem with lace bugs?

[@brutusadmirer8043]

@@marysmith9083 I have not grown Carnival, and don't know whether it is blessed with that leathery leaf of the more resistant ones. I would think the further north/cooler you are, the less of a problem it will tend to be. If you are zone 7B or warmer, I suspect all day sun will be a problem, both for lacebugs and early September blooms melting.

[@vin.handle]

I planted some April Tryst encore azaleas in a container and they started browning after two weeks. I attributed it to transplant shock and just trimmed after they bloomed and watered regularly. Hopefully, they will come back.

[@annr2466]

Thanks for the tips.

[@cindyski4413]

I had just purchased mine and planted them. My son cut the grass with lawnmower, you can guess what happened! I forgot to tell him I had just planted my azalea plant. Few little stems with leaves are left. That’s why I’m watching to see if there’s hope.

[@lesiadziuma6090]

Thank you for this information. We have old bushes of azaleas and they have blooms on the top of them. The stem is very bare without many leaves. No flowers. Could you cut this kind of bush to the ground or at least one food from the ground for them to get Fuller and Bloom all over?

[@Encoreazalea]

Yes - renewal pruning can help in these situations. Here's a helpful video on how to do so: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYaYanyBg9Nsb8Usi=GDb0fS-ZaLbat0DG

[@jessicasimermeyer8185]

Very helpful! If removing spent blooms should you remove just the bloom or the whole bud? When I take weak blooms off the central components remain. Should I be removing all parts of the flower to encourage further blooming?

[@Encoreazalea]

Jessica, either works! Deadheading is often for the aesthetics or your preference on azaleas. They'll rebloom even if you don't deadhead!

[@IAmMe1910]

I bought one on Clearance from Lowe’s that the leaves are really burnt. Should I cut it to ground and let it grow again?

[@letsdothistogether6089]

I wouldn't. I bought some burnt ones from Walmart on clearance after they bloomed. I put them in the ground. The dead leaves fell off as new leaves came in.

[@mrskee4642]

My encore azaleas are getting too large for the area....is it too late to prune them now? (They bloomed early spring, but I didn't have time to do it then.) Or should I wait until after the 2nd bloom?

[@Sunflower-yk9qd]

I bought 4 azaleas containers, and potted in ground in a row in full sun atleast 8 hrs and 2 of them turned brown leaves I don’t know what happened because other 2 are looking great

[@junetriggs3829]

Great infor because I thought they needed to be in shade 🤭! I'm glad I watched your video because I just got three today! Hino crimson! I can't wait for them grow and bloom!

[@Encoreazalea]

Hi! Hino crimson might like a little less sun than Encore Azaleas. Hino is considered part sun to shade, whereas Encore Azaleas are great in sun to part sun! Happy gardening to you!

[@mumngupok7972]

August month is suitable for cutting azalia?

[@Encoreazalea]

Hi! You would usually want to prune immediately after the spring bloom!

[@bfboobie]

@@Encoreazalea if I missed the spring/early summer ideal pruning time , what is the reason to avoid pruning in August?

[@opnlms]

If I prune after they bloom will they bloom more often than if I don't prune at all? Also, do I need to worry about you much sun on the roots.

[@Encoreazalea]

Pruning may actually stimulate blooming a bit more than not pruning at all! Mulching up to the edge of the root ball will help protect roots as they grow. Thanks!

[@shirleyjohnson2516]

How to take care of shrubs to make them grow?

[@Encoreazalea]

We have lots of tips on our web site: EncoreAzalea.com. Please let us know if these help?

[@sunnynotblind4158]

We just bought a home in Florida with tons of Indian Azaleas as hedges. They are really scrappy looking. Flowering only on top. What can I do to get hem to fill in?

[@brutusadmirer8043]

Immediately after blooming, you can cut them back really hard (1/3-1/2) if they are reasonably healthy & established. (Look up "drop crotch pruning.") If you do, definitely pamper them with some water if you later in the summer go through a droughty period.

[@mayaportland8805]

My azalea is in full sun from morning to evening and it barely has leaves on, it looks like a bonsai, just empty branches with very small barely any leaves on. Im wondering if it's too much sun? I don't want it to die, it does flower very pretty in spring but even it's flowers go old very fast from the hot heat.

[@Encoreazalea]

Sorry to hear that! What zone or region do you live in?

[@triciaholder1958]

My encore azaleas have never bloomed twice in a year. They only bloom every spring. Could the reason be that I don’t fertilize them? They are pretty full when they do bloom and some years they have been spectacular.

[@Encoreazalea]

Let's try to decode why! Are they planted in shade?

[@HoustonTXFoodandFun]

If I wait until after the first bloom, does that mean the flowers will die off and then I prune them? Or will there still be flowers on the bush?

[@pchallice1758]

Will they ever bloom if my rabbits ate after blooming the first year?

[@annsharpe2291]

Do you need to prune limbs off ground

[@stevebrandau9300]

Hi Jim and Friends at Encore Azaleas. I live in Central California (93720) and was wondering where I could order any larger or more mature Encore Azaleas? Like 7 Gallon or larger. Any thoughts or direction would be helpful. Thanks, Steve

[@Tlloyd56]

i have some azaleas planted in mostly shaded area, they always look terrible and leggy.

[@Exayevie]

I came here from a niwaki video and the difference is a bit of a shock lol

[@hershnury2355]

how i watering pleas😊

[@Encoreazalea]

Here's a helpful video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmHGhnyEhMdqb9k

[@Encoreazalea]

And this one is very helpful as well! kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2XGp5Wig7WBn7s