How to prune azalea

Preparation for pruning

Pruning time

Mature azaleas are pruned only after flowering.

Trimming tools

If you have a lot of woody plants at home, you should have at least one or two of the following pruning tools.

Tips on pruning azalea

No matter how you prune, it is easy to produce adventitious buds. Prune between after flowering and the end of May, and the new shoots that grow thereafter will produce flower buds in autumn. Be careful not to prune after summer.

The following figure shows the basic growth of flower buds:

Basic methods of garden cultivation

How to prune potted azalea

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Pruning steps

Remove the buds

During the first 2 to 4 years of azalea growth, the plant is relatively short. Cutting off the flower buds can accelerate the formation of the skeleton, which is beneficial to the formation of the plant's flower shape in the future.

Pruning of overgrown branches

Overgrown branches will affect the beauty of the azalea and make the branches grow in disorder. Pruning the overgrown branches after the flowers bloom can effectively control the shape of the plant, and the branches should be thinned out so that the growth shape will look good.

Pruning weak branches

Rhododendrons are prone to yellowing and leaf loss. If you find poorly growing branches during maintenance, prune them in time. This will be beneficial to the healthy growth of the entire plant.

Pruning deformed branches

Azalea bonsai is not beautiful just because of its strange branches. Some branches are deformed, which will affect the healthy growth of the plant, and some will even affect its appearance.