How to Prune an Azalea
Part of the Rhododendron family, azaleas can be either evergreen or deciduous and may bloom any time between early spring through early fall, depending on where they are planted. Like most flowers, azaleas require some pruning to maintain their shape and size. Pruning also helps to encourage new growth and blooming each season. So, if you would like to keep the plant looking its best, prune it regularly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut off branches at the bottom of the plant, using pruning shears or a pruning saw. Shaded branches do not receive enough light to survive and will eventually die off anyway. Removing them early keeps them from using nutrients and moisture the rest of the plant needs.
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Keep a bowl with denatured alcohol with you as you prune the azalea plant. After each cut, dip the pruning shears or pruning saw into the alcohol to kill any infection that may be present.
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Cut back the two tallest branches each year to one-third their size. This prevents the plant from growing too tall.
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Tips & Warnings
Do any heavy pruning to an azalea plant immediately after it blooms for the year. Heavy pruning is beneficial to azalea plants that have grown too large for the space allocated. Heavy pruning consists of cutting back the entire plant, leaving only half or one-third of the branches and half or one-third of the height of the plant.
Don't prune after early summer. After azaleas bloom, they start producing the buds for the following season. If you cut these buds away after they have been produced, the plant won't bloom the following summer.
