when is the best time of the year to prune my azalea bushes?

Question

I live in centeral arkansas, and i would like to make my azalea bushes fuller than they are now. They flower pretty often but i have never known the best time to prune them. Can you help?

Answer 1

Pruning azaleas and rhododendrons should be undertaken immediately after they finish blooming (usually June or July). Pruning azaleas and rhododendrons later than that risks interfering with the development of next year's buds. Begin by pruning off dead or injured branches, which could cause disease and insect problems in the future. Then prune back tall, gangly limbs shooting out of the top of the bush. This will promote a more attractive, compact shape. A proper regimen of pruning azaleas and rhododendrons, in conjunction with the other tips offered above on the care of rhododendron and azalea bushes, will help these flowering shrubs provide your landscape with eye-opening hedges or specimen plants for years to come.

Answer 2

The best time to prune azalea's is after they have completed their bloom period. You can prune anytime after this period until the month of August. In August azalea's began setting their blooms for the next year. If you prune after July, you will be destroying the buds and they will not bloom the next year. Also you should fertilize azaleas after the bloom period and again in the late fall. Shape your azaleas by trimming the long stems back, this will cause the azalea to become fuller.

Answer 3

When To Trim Azaleas

Answer 4

When To Trim Azalea Bushes

Answer 5

I'm in Tennessee and I just finished hacking the hell out of mine. I've waited as long as well into August and they've bloomed just fine the following spring.

Answer 6

now. after they bloom and before they set blooms for next year.