Winter pruning azaleas

Rid

Shohin
Messages
478
Reaction score
364
Location
Atlanta, GA
USDA Zone
7b
I have some large azaleas that I collected early this spring, amd I'm getting the urge to cut out the branches that I don't want. The trunks are nice now so I don't need anymore growth. Plants are healthy and just finished blooming, so is something to do now or wait until spring?

I'm in Atlanta
Ridley
 
Just finished blooming? Encores?

I'd wait. If you cut them back hard now they will try to back bud all winter, and it just weakens the tree I think... Especially if you just had them bloom a bunch for you.... I'd recommend waiting u til Spring when the tree can keep growing and back budding without frost killing off the new growth. JMHO.
 
Just finished blooming? Encores?

I'd wait. If you cut them back hard now they will try to back bud all winter, and it just weakens the tree I think... Especially if you just had them bloom a bunch for you.... I'd recommend waiting u til Spring when the tree can keep growing and back budding without frost killing off the new growth. JMHO.


Yeah, what he said. I only prune for shape this time of the year, eventhough it looks like we are going to have a mild winter this year in the heart of dixie.

John
 
I think the best time is late winter, early spring.

When you make your cuts be sure to seal them, especially the cambium with TopJin.
 
I think the best time is late winter, early spring.

When you make your cuts be sure to seal them, especially the cambium with TopJin.

Ok, thanks a lot. one more question, i couldn't fight the urge about a month ago and went to town on a dwarf yaupon. I didn't use any cut paste on that one, but i'm guessing i should still apply it?

Ridley
 
You shouldn't need to seal the cuts at this time of year (or any time, IMHO); and never on a Youpon. But do any pruning ONLY if the plant is very healthy.
 
You shouldn't need to seal the cuts at this time of year (or any time, IMHO); and never on a Youpon. But do any pruning ONLY if the plant is very healthy.

Oh No! Another Religious Belief Bonsai Thread! Get popcorn and beverages! :p

Grimmy
 
Ok, thanks a lot. one more question, i couldn't fight the urge about a month ago and went to town on a dwarf yaupon. I didn't use any cut paste on that one, but i'm guessing i should still apply it?

Ridley
Surprise surprise, I disagree with jkl on something.

Some thoughts:
1. Yaupon wounds close slowly, and the wood rots quickly.
2. Trees tend to not callus over rough/rotting areas as well as over smooth areas.
3. Sealing wounds protects the wound from exposure to elements that hasten rotting, keeping the cut smoother longer.
4. Sealing cuts adds more time for the callus to advance across the wound.

Here is an example of a couple Yaupon cuts on one of my bonsai. These cuts are large, 3" across, and were made and sealed in summer 2013; 2.5 growing seasons ago. The paste on this one has weathered, and the wood is rotting. I'll need to clean it up and reapply to get the callus moving again. You can see from the edges, it hasn't moved much, and actually receded from rotted wood in the upper left area of the cut:
image.jpg
Here's a wound on the other side of the same tree, where the paste has held up better, and the wood underneath is clearly not rotting. The callus is advancing better too. Look at the smaller wound on the far right, it's covered well and healing up.
image.jpg

I use Callusmate on wounds like these. Dallas Bonsai has the best price.
image.jpg
 
B4me has another opinion on Azalea pruning:
http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/AT%20Azalea%20Bonsai%20Pruning.html
I have limited experience with Satsuki, but i tend to believe in this B4me-method:
http://bonsai.diyhomegarden.eu/satsuki1.html
Jacos,

The Bonsai4me article applies to bonsai that are already pretty much developed, and not early in the development stage. An azalea collected from the landscape probably doesn't have a good central trunk , and even if it does, probably doesn't have well developed branches with taper. Getting that requires significant cutback.

Azalea are very subject to die back. So, if hard cuts are made it is very important to apply cut paste to prevent die back. Azalea bark is very thin, and die back can occur, and run down the branch or trunk very easily. TopJin cut paste has some antibiotic quality that helps to prevent dieback. It takes a day to fully dry. But, it is somewhat water soluble. So, it's prudent to seal it again with the putty type cut paste to keep the TopJin from dissolving away.

So, early in development, don't let the tree bloom. That's energy wasted that should be directed to building good structure.

Azalea are prolific backbudders, so cutting back hard works very well.

Here is my azalea developed in the method I just described. Cool fall colors!

image.jpeg
 
cut out the branches that I don't want.
I'd remove the unwanted ones now. Cutting back (especially into old wood) is best left until late winter/early spring. Like everybody says...sealing I found to be very important on azalea.
 
early in development, don't let the tree bloom
I'm a softy for satsuki flowers. Got 49 in the development stage. Best time of year is when they bloom.....sends my zing for life into the stratosphere......:D I can never get myself to remove the flowers. I compromise though...remove half the buds and always apologise for it...:(
 
Has anyone tried grafting whole hardwood branches onto azaleas? Which season would you do it in.? fredman is jy n suid afrikaaner?
 
An azalea collected from the landscape probably doesn't have a good central trunk , and even if it does, probably doesn't have well developed branches with taper. Getting that requires significant cutback.


These azaleas have good trunks, but just about every branch needs to be removed to some degree
This one is in a 15 gal pot
image.jpeg
This one in a 7 gal
image.jpeg
image.jpeg image.jpeg
Here's the yaupon in a 15 gal
image.jpeg
 
Dammit I put my reply into adairs quote.
 
So, are you planning a clump style ? Or single leader? Or what?
 
Well my plan was to remove the branches that I knew had to go, and then go from there. Not a plan really.

I did the yaupon that way, and it turned out ok I think. I wish I had taken "before" pics of the yaupon.

I'm brand new at this, so everything is more or less a complete experiment. I plan on making mistakes, but I at least wanted to make them in the appropriate season
Ridley
 
[QUOTE="Adair M, post: 308386, member:

So, early in development, don't let the tree bloom. That's energy wasted that should be directed to building good structure.


View attachment 89068[/QUOTE]

Let it bloom, it will not matter or waste energy...

Nice azalea, Adair, how tall is it?

John
 
Back
Top Bottom