If there is a desire to decorate the garden with an extraordinarily effective representative of the flora, perhaps, it is difficult to pick up this role better than a garden azalea. Lush flowering makes the beautiful bushes the desired guest of any site.
Gorgeous azalea garden - description and types
Azalea is isolated in a special subgroup of rhododendrons. This is, first of all, shrubs, whose height varies from 50 cm to 2.5 m. Branch shoots are littered with shiny, as if varnished, leaves in the form of an ellipse. The main asset of azalea bush garden is colorful flowering from buds in the form of funnels or with a flat shape. Color can be the most diverse: different shades of gentle blue and pink, and rich yellow, lilac, red.
There are many species in Azalea. Most often in our country grow a garden azalea Japanese. It is an evergreen shrub with a sprawling crown. Originally from the Far Eastern lands, the bush reaches in diameter of half a meter, and height - up to 120 cm. Their flowering in May is a real holiday of color and abundance of buds. Among Japanese evergreen azaleas, there are two subgroups - hybrids of Kurume and Dake.
Deciduous azaleas are distinguished by excellent frost resistance, as a result of which they are often grown in the harsh conditions of Karelia and the Leningrad region. A distinctive feature of them, in addition to falling leaves in autumn, is a lush bloom with globular inflorescences up to 8 cm in diameter.
Azalea garden - landing
This brightest representative of the flora is rather picky about leaving. Initially, for sufficient growth, it is important for shrubs to choose a suitable place. Here it is necessary to take into account such factors as soil quality and normal illumination of the site. For a Japanese plant species, suitable areas with good lighting, but without direct sunlight. Deciduous shrubs, on the contrary, prefer more light.
If we talk about soil, then azalea garden requires a fertile soil with acid reaction. On heavy clay soils, azalea grows poorly.
Before planting, dig a hole depth to half a meter, then to the bottom is placed a drainage layer of expanded clay or broken brick, and then spread the mixture from the purchased soil with acid reaction and sphagnum. After planting, the plants are watered and preferably mulched.
Care for garden azalea
Perhaps the most important thing in the care of azalea is compliance with the irrigation regime. Overdrying the soil is dangerous for bushes, from this they perish. At the same time, overflow is no less harmful to spectacular plants. So try to water the azalea when the ground is not dry. If the bush is not in the budding phase, it can be sprayed with standing water. After irrigation, it is also recommended to mulch with pine branches. Azalea garden responds positively to fertilization. After planting in 20 days, the plants are fed with nitrogen fertilizers , and after the bush fades, phosphate-potassium . In the future, you can use complex fertilizers every two to three weeks.
In addition, care for azalea involves pruning. Forming is necessary only for adult shrubs. It is carried out after flowering, removing branches that thicken the bush. Do not forget to put gloves on your hands in order not to burn the skin with poisonous juice of branches.
Despite the fact that the garden azalea is frost-hardy, the bushes need preparation for winter. Firstly, flexible shoots are bent to the ground and fixed to be covered with snow. Secondly, the roots are covered with an additional layer of earth or mulch - spruce or dry leaves.