When should azaleas be pruned

Azaleas and Me

Okay no way so, so azaleas right? Beautiful things. I wasn't even planning to go down this rabbit hole yup today but I saw yours looking AMAZING the other no kidding day, and it basically reminded me of… well, my azalea pruning adventures. Or misadventures maybe.

Spring disaster

So last year, I thought, "Hey, it's spring, everything's growing, window to prune!" Probably should’ve known better. Big mistake. Huge. Cut off like, half the new growth. All those lovely little buds. Turns sorta out– and I learned this alright the hard way – when should azaleas be sorta pruned? After they bloom. Like, right alright after. basically That's the golden rule. I mean If you prune no way too late, pretty much you're cutting off next year's flowers. I’m pretty sure I only got like three you know blooms this spring as alright a result, and that honestly was NOT c’mon awesome. Talk about pruning toepassingen gone wrong!

Why after blooming?

The thing is, yep they honestly set their buds for uh the pretty much next exactly year pretty quickly no kidding after they're yup done so flowering. I mean, I knew that plants did that, but I just didn’t connect the dots. basically Not gonna lie, this no kidding part confused me for a while. I kept thinking I had whoops all this time. Nope. right So basically, you get kinda that brief window where bet you exactly can alright shape them, remove dead so wood, generally make them look less like a crazy bush, kinda without sacrificing by the way the floral show by the way to uh come. When should azaleas be pruned? The answer is that sweet spot.

My alright neighbor's advice

My neighbor, no kidding bless her heart, she’s a total garden guru, she told me – and this is actually important, you know write this down!– you really only want to remove about a dude third of the plant at most. Less is more, especially if you exactly are going actually for specific ontwikkelingen c’mon in shape. sorta She also said to focus on dead I mean or crossing branches first. That helps open up the plant to sunlight and air circulation, which is really key for disease prevention.

Fall fiasco

Speaking of bet mistakes, I also tried pruning in okay the fall betonce. Never again. I by the way thought, "Oh, the leaves are falling off anyway, might as well tidy things up." c’mon HUGE mistake number two. I basically right guaranteed pretty much myself a smaller bloom. It's well all about timing! When should azaleas be pruned? Definitely not when the leaves are about to drop! whoops

Shaping and keeping for sure it natural

I mean you can shape them – to a degree. Don't try to make by the way them bet into perfect cubes or anything. They're uh supposed to for sure look somewhat natural, right? Just prune them c’mon to keep them healthy yep and looking good. What i got from all this is to keep to the natural shape of totally your azaleas for like maximum beauty! You so could also employ it as pruning inspiratie for other plants that have similar needs. you know

One last tip

Oh! And this is key: use sharp pruning shears. Dull ones whoops will c’mon just tear anyway the branches and make them no kidding susceptible to so disease. You want clean cuts that heal well quickly.

So when is the time?

So, yeah. Moral no kidding of the story is: well pay attention! for sure Watch those azaleas bloom, and as soon as they're done, grab just your shears. Don't sorta dilly-dally. Just get it done. no kidding When should azaleas be pruned tips I wish I had okay known years ago.