Certain azaleas require long-term TLC

I’m still fairly new to this area and have a question about azalea plants that I received in February. They have bloomed beautifully and are just now fading, but new growth seems to be appearing. I have a shade bed with ferns and a rhododendron, can I safely plant these azalea plants there also? Can I do it now or is it too early?

Dana Malone 

Unfortunately, your azalea is a variety that is often grown in greenhouses for the floral trade. It is an evergreen variety that isn’t hardy here. But take heart. Pot it into a larger pot and put it outdoors for the summer. Feed it with a half strength rhododendron food every two to three weeks. Next fall bring it back in and put it in a bright, indirectly lit spot away from heat sources. It may rebloom sometime late next winter or spring. If not, you have a nice green houseplant.

While we are on the topic of azaleas and rhododendrons, they will be blooming soon. Because some will bloom earlier than others, pick a range of early, mid- and late-season bloomers for close to two months of color. While rhododendrons generally don’t need pruning, if they do need a bit of heading back, do it just after the flowers fade. The plant’s natural growth cycle will take over at this point. To deadhead the flowers, carefully break off the old flower just above the new green buds below it.

Pruning burning bush

Can you please tell me where I can find information on pruning a burning bush? My daughter’s has really outgrown the area by her walk and I offered to help her trim it back.

Also, I have a flowering quince that is going to have to be sheared back drastically, or taken out. How deep do the roots go? Last year every time I trimmed it, it seemed to like it so well that it grew like crazy.

De and Shirley

Like your quince, a burning bush will also grow wildly if heavily pruned. When some plants are pruned hard, the plant loses its leader branches that tell the lower branches how much to grow. With no one in charge, all the branches got crazy trying to re-establish control. Instead of pruning the whole plant hard try cutting a few branches out along the walk each year for the next few years to reduce its size but not trigger heavy growth. Keep in mind that burning bushes normal can easily grow to six feet tall and wide so if the space is much smaller than this, it may be better to take it out and start over.