Are you pruning your azaleas? Did you have a lot of blooms this past spring? If your azaleas are growing too tall, now is the perfect time to remove those tall shoots. I like to use my Felco hand snips and reach down into the plant to make my cuts. To see a short video on how to do this, click here. Pruning down inside the plant slows down the new growth and creates less maintenance. We like that, right? If you choose to use gas or electric powered shears, you will "meatball" your shrubs, and that will not create a high prized landscape appearance. Please don't use the power shears on your azaleas. I like to be finished with pruning my azaleas by July 4th so I do not cut off any of next year's blooms. If your azaleas need pruning, do it soon so next spring you will be pleased with all the flowers they will produce.
Have you noticed any speckled green and yellow leaves on your azaleas? You may have Lace Bugs using your plants for a free lunch. The adult Lace Bug is just under ¼ inch long with transparent wings. It likes to feed by sucking the underside of the leaves. If ignored, the leaves will look yellow and skeletalized.
To control Lace Bug, I have used insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and many of the synthetic products labeled for lacebug. The MSU Cares web site lists several good products on their site. Click here to visit the MSU Cares site, and then scroll down and click the Azalea Lace Bug link. Always read and follow the label directions. If using a spray application, point the wand up from beneath, so the undersides of the leaves are sprayed well. Get those Lace Bugs now, because in August they tend to be harder to manage.
Are you pruning your azaleas? Did you have a lot of blooms this past spring? If your azaleas are growing too tall, now is the perfect time to remove those tall shoots. I like to use my Felco hand snips and reach down into the plant to make my cuts. To see a short video on how to do this, click here. Pruning down inside the plant slows down the new growth and creates less maintenance. We like that, right? If you choose to use gas or electric powered shears, you will "meatball" your shrubs, and that will not create a high prized landscape appearance. Please don't use the power shears on your azaleas. I like to be finished with pruning my azaleas by July 4th so I do not cut off any of next year's blooms. If your azaleas need pruning, do it soon so next spring you will be pleased with all the flowers they will produce.
Have you noticed any speckled green and yellow leaves on your azaleas? You may have Lace Bugs using your plants for a free lunch. The adult Lace Bug is just under ¼ inch long with transparent wings. It likes to feed by sucking the underside of the leaves. If ignored, the leaves will look yellow and skeletalized.
To control Lace Bug, I have used insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and many of the synthetic products labeled for lacebug. The MSU Cares web site lists several good products on their site. Click here to visit the MSU Cares site, and then scroll down and click the Azalea Lace Bug link. Always read and follow the label directions. If using a spray application, point the wand up from beneath, so the undersides of the leaves are sprayed well. Get those Lace Bugs now, because in August they tend to be harder to manage.