Step 1
The full areas to grow the two dozen cultivars of Encore azalea are in U.S. Department of Agriculture flora hardiness zones 7 through 9a , where wintertime temperatures drop into the mountain chain of 0 to 25 degree Fahrenheit . They may be successfully grown in zone 6b in more sheltered garden configurations , and a few prize cultivar demonstrate wintertime hardiness down to minus 10 F , which is zone 6a . If the winter is too cold-blooded , dieback of sprig and leaves go on , followed by death of the theme with extend , excessive cold .
Factors Affecting Damage
Encore azaleas are more prone to block legal injury if they are stressed by drought or disease heading into downslope and winter . Bone - dry soils in wintertime , coupled with exposure to warm sunshine and cold , drying twist cause plant to dry up and drop leafage or die back . Younger , fresh plant Encore azaleas with less blanket root systems also may not endure dusty weather condition as well as old , build shrubs . Freeze damage may become unplumbed if cold weather returns after a mild winter thaw that get flower buds to tumesce and sap to flow in the subdivision . Frozen sap causes the bark to burst and dry out out the vascular tissue paper .
Step 2
Response
Do not trim away freeze - damage tissues on Encore azalea until a sentence in spring when frost are no longer expect . Pruning in late winter or too early on in spring encourages fresh growth that is tender to cold . If another frost or freeze out occurs , this new development will be toss off . Although the halt damage may await untempting , do not dress until early to midspring . Delaying the pruning also render the azaleas time to reveal which tissues are dead . You may still get some blossom bud to open up and leaves to sprout after the freeze damage . If the flowering is nice , delay the pruning until tardy fountain . raw growth will then following the trimming across summertime .
Root System Insight
Azalea roots are more susceptible to stale harm than leaves and twigs , according to the Azalea Society of America . The beginning are fibrous and sparse , principally in the top 6 to 10 inches of dirt . In descent , allow the first frosts and freezes to occur on the shrubs so the plants become dormant . Then , in late spill , make or maintain a 3- to 4 - column inch - abstruse layer of mulch over the roots to isolate the soil from cold and wet departure . level-headed , nonfrozen roots survive winter respectable and bring home the bacon splendid energy and water to fuel regrowth in spring following any winter freeze damage .
References
Related
