Are Your Azalea Branches Dying Learn About Azalea Dieback Diseases

How do you save a dying azalea plant?

Apply a gentle organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion. Spread compost over the root zones, keep the soil moist, and mulch. Take affected leaves to a certified nurseryman for help. Last summer was hot and dry; if the shrubs weren't watered and mulched, they likely declined and the leaves scorched.

Why are my azalea branches black?

Black branches are the result of mold growing on the honeydew excreted by this azalea pest. Azalea bark scale looks like, and is often mistaken for, mealybugs. ... Blackened branches, made so by honeydew and mold, eventually sicken and die, as does the female when her egg sac is full.

Is my azalea tree dead?

Green wood means the branch is healthy and brown wood indicates that it is dead. Dead wood should be trimmed off. Cut the twigs and branches back to a point just beyond a side branch to encourage healthy regrowth. If your azalea won't grow leaves, you should also consider the possibility of diseases.

How do you rejuvenate azaleas?

When rejuvenating an azalea or rhododendron, fertilize the year before to prepare the plant and then fertilize again in spring (end of April) after the hard pruning to stimulate growth. For smaller azaleas, use bypass pruners to make the cuts. For larger jobs, you may need a folding saw or a pair of loppers.

Are coffee grounds good for azaleas?

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.

What is wrong with my azalea?

The fungus Phytophthora species causes one of the most common disease problems in the landscape for rhododendron and azalea. This fungus is a “water mold,” and thrives in poorly drained or wet conditions. ... Rhododendron leaves will curl inward and droop. Drought can cause similar symptoms.

Why are my azalea blooms turning brown?

When your azalea blooms turn brown, first look to cultural care. Azaleas are generally healthy plants if you meet their growth requirements. Too much or too little water, the wrong exposure, or soil may result in browning flowers. ... The soil surface must dry out slightly between waterings.

Is my azalea dead or dormant?

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Take your fingernail and lightly scrape the stem. If the you see green where you scraped the stem the plant is still alive. If it isn't green go further down the stem until you find green. You will need to trim off any part of the stem that isn't green.

When should I feed my azaleas?

Only add fertilizer for azaleas during late winter or early spring. Else, aim for when they're in or slightly after bloom. Fertilizing during the off-times is a no-no. You'll have leafy growth if adding fertilizer too early into their growth cycle.

What to do with azaleas after flowering?

After flowering. Remove the dead flowers. Repotting can then be done if necessary, increasing the pot size by no more than 2.5-5cm (1-2in) in diameter. Most indoor azaleas are imported from the Continent.

Why did my azaleas not bloom this year?

The most common reasons they fail totally, is that the shrubs were pruned too late the previous summer and didn't have time for new growth to mature and form flower buds before fall, or they were pruned to neaten them up in the fall or winter and all the flowering stems were removed.

Do azaleas like sun or shade?

Azaleas do well in full sun or part shade (about four hours of sun). Planted in full sun, azaleas will be more compact and floriferous. When planted in part shade, they will stretch toward the sunlight and form a more graceful habit; flowers will not be as plentiful but will last longer.

How far back can you trim azaleas?

You can cut the overgrown shrub back in one fell swoop, or spread the pruning out over several seasons. If you choose the all-at-once approach, cut all the branches back to 6-12 inches above ground level in late winter or very early spring, before they would ordinarily flush out with new growth.

What is killing my azaleas?

Two boring insects that cause dying branches on azaleas include the rhododendron borer and the rhododendron stem borer. ... There is no conventional insecticide that kills the larvae because they are protected inside the branch. The best treatment is to cut back affected branches in early spring and late summer.

Is Epsom salt good for azaleas?

Many seasoned gardeners simply toss a handful of Epsom salts around the bases of azaleas or other shrubs. ... The National Gardening Association recommends applying Epsom salts mixed in water as a foliar spray for best results.

What is the white stuff on my azaleas?

Powdery Mildew – This azalea disease appears as white powdery growth on the leaves and occurs most often during fall. Diseased leaves may drop prematurely. May require fungicide spray.

What is the best fertilizer for azaleas?

If you don't test the soil, select a general, balanced fertilizer such as 15-15-15. The numbers refer to the proportionate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the product. The nutrient your azalea is most likely to need is nitrogen. This also encourages the shrub to grow faster.

How do you treat brown spots on azaleas?

Spray leaves with Bayleton, Ferbam, Captan, or a fixed copper fungicide. Start spraying at end of bloom period and continue at 2- to 3-week intervals until mid-June. See more details at leaf and flower gall. Brown or bronzed leaves, with tiny black fruiting bodies on the dead tissues.

When do you treat azalea lace bug?

Azalea lacebugs overwinter as eggs and hatch in the spring. Early spring is a good time to control them before they become too numerous. Azalea lace bug attacks azaleas and some rhododendrons.

How is Azalea chlorosis treated?

For a long-lasting solution, make the soil more acidic to free up the existing nutrients. Small areas can be made more acidic by applying acidic organic matter, such as peat moss, to the soil. Larger areas are more feasibly treated with soil applications of elemental sulfur, iron sulfate or aluminum sulfate.