How to Prune Encore Azaleas

Encore azaleas are one of the few azalea varieties that bloom in the spring, summer and fall seasons. These azalea plants thrive in full sunlight (at least 6 hours a day), and those planted in shady areas will bloom less frequently. Plant in adequately draining soil with a pH range between 5.5 and 6.5. During the azalea's first year, adopt a weekly watering schedule. Pruning Encore azaleas should be a regular part of their care for optimal blooming results.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bypass shears
• Alcohol

1. Choose a time after the first spring bloom to prune azaleas. Light pruning will allow for optimal blooms and promote new growth.

2. Check azaleas for dead wood, diseased stems or damaged branches. Use a pair of bypass shears to cut unhealthy growth. Cut back diseased branches until healthy white branch interiors are present. Bypass shears can be purchased at any gardening supply store. Because the lower clip cradles the stem, they inflict less damage to the plant than regular shears.

3. Dip bypass shears in a mixture of 10-percent denatured alcohol and water after cutting diseased stems. This prevents spreading diseases to healthy portions of the plant.

4. Prune the middle of the azalea, eliminating small branches that cross each other or lay on top of other ones. By creating more space in the middle, you allow for more air circulation and sunlight getting to the thickest part of the plant.

5. Remove two to three large branches each year. Any more severe pruning than this can cause the plant to go into shock. Severely overgrown azaleas may require pruning spread over a few years before being brought under control and reshaped.

Tips & Warnings

• Monitor azaleas for fungal cankers, which occur during the late summer months. Fungal cankers are localized dead areas on a branch.
• Avoid shearing azaleas; it causes unhealthy jagged growth.

References

• Encore Azaleas
• Pruning Azaleas
• Growing Azaleas