Hi there!!
This
spring I planted a Fire Azalea. It was absolutely gorgeous!! It's only about a foot tall and a foot wide, but it was one big red ball of fire in the
spring! I love it!
After the
flowers were done, the leaves stayed a nice red/green. Over the summer and fall, some of the leaves dropped, and there are now just leaves near the ends of the branches.
I'm wondering:
1. How do I prune this plant to get it ready for next year?
2. I cut the bottom off of a cheapy plastic planter and am going to place it over the azalea and fill in the sides with leaves. Will this be sufficient for "winterizing" the plant and keeping it from getting damaged? The bottom of the planter was cut off, to allow light, water and air in, but the sides of the container and the packed in leaves should provide warmth and protection from harsh winds. (I live in Canada... it gets cold here, lol.)
Thanks for any advice or tips!