Gogo

Hi everyone,

I was hoping to get some opinions on how to style this azalea I just picked up at Home Depot. It had the best nebari out of the bunch and I thought I'd give it a try.

This is my first azalea and I'm not too sure with what can be done with nursery stock. As with most azaleas I've seen at nurseries, the branches are really leggy and the foliage is so far away from the trunk. I'm assuming I'll have to cut most, if not all, of the branches way back to encourage more compact growth. Like I said, this is my first azalea and I have no idea how well it will back bud.

If I am right in assuming that I have to cut most of the branches way back, should I do it in stages that will span the entire growth season or is it safe to lop all of them off at once.

I'm thinking of going with a broom style because of the straight trunk. I apologize if it's hard to see the branch structure due to it's bushiness. Maybe I should have thinned it out before I took a picture.

Thanks,
Gerald

Attached Images

azalea5.jpg (64.6 KB, 296 views)

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