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#28319 Apr 21st, 2007 at 05:41 PM
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GenieGA Offline OP
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Help! We've been in our house 3 yrs. and I've spent a lot of time pruning our foundation plants every year. They are the VERY large type of azaleas. They are beautiful when they bloom, but otherwise they just look over-grown.
I have corrected improper pruning (probably with a chain saw!) and pruned them drastically to promote interior growth, but I really think they need to be transplanted to the edge of the yard.
Since they are over 10 feet now (just since last year), do I need to prune them back drastically again and then transplant them or prune them severely and transplant in the fall?
Your advice would be appreciated!
Tired of pruning in Georgia.

GenieGA #28683 Apr 22nd, 2007 at 04:44 AM
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i've never seen an azalea that big. My landlord has some at another property and he took them down because they cracked his foundation. So it is a good thing you are moving them. I would prune after flower but wait to move them until the fall. And be in for a fight. If they are like my landlords they have really long tough roots.


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tkhooper #49765 May 22nd, 2007 at 12:07 PM
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I've started many Azaleas from naturally rooted stems and find them to be hardy, so I wouldn't worry too much about cutting them back and transplanting now. If the central roots are simply too unweildy, I wouldn't be concerned about whether the mother plant survives--you should be able to start many others. If the area you're moving them to is very sunny, create a partial tent to block some of the light and keep watered well this year.


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azalea (and rhododendron, too) can easily grow to 12 feet (or more) if left to grow as they will (ie, not pruned into any certain type of shape). they take many years to get that big tho...

i see a ton of very large specimens on my way to/from work. personally, i don't really like them because, as you said, after they flower they just look so raggedy.

i DO enjoy my drive to work tho, when these huge plants are in bloom tho!! some sections i drive through are quite shaded and full of trees and non-flowering shrubs. the azalea's really put an amazing bright spot there in all the shade and it's always a surprise to see them as you come around a curve in the road - even when you know that they're there. seems like they bloom overnight!

if yours are that big, then they're pretty old and the root system will be very well established. i'd cut them back at least by a third and then move them. and i'd do it now so they have the summer to get re-established. use root stimulant to encourage new root growth and make sure you keep them properly watered so they can get established.


Zone 6b

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