Azalea Styling Advice Needed

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, 295 views)

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ChrisM

i think just rounding off the top would look nice once it is in bloom. i agree with you also, the nebari is nice. good luck with this tree, can't wait to see it in the future.

grumpa

Gerald,Yes you can cut it all back and it will bud back. I'll try and find some pictures of mine that I'm working on.
But first figure on your basic shape that you want it to look like, wire it and then trim it wire and all.
I was lucky enough to have Ms. Patrizia Cappellaro De Martino of Italy work on mine and that's what she did on mine.
It to was a H.D. plant.
Steve

Gogo

Here's the backside.

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azalea7.jpg (67.4 KB, 268 views)

bonsaikc

That lowest ramrod-straight branch at the back has to go! Cut it nearly flush with the trunk, don't make it concave. Then with the sharpest razor or grafting knife you can find, clean up the cut leaving it very slightly rounded (very slightly) and use a good cut paste on it.

You should be very excited about this nebari, as azaleas at local stores usually have a multitude of trunks leaping out of the soil by themselves. Just remember the non-apical nature of the azalea and don't let the low branches sap the strength from the top of the tree.

Chris

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Bonsai KC said:



This sounds like a very good description of why Masakuni makes a convex cutter.

Gogo

Well I strated cutting back the azalea back this morning and I thought I'd take a pause in the action to get some feedback before going any further. Any ideas on my options?

I kinda like the way the azalea is throwing up the peace sign.

Thanks again,
Gerald

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azaprune2.jpg (70.3 KB, 231 views)

Gogo

side angle

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azaprune4.jpg (68.7 KB, 203 views)

Gogo

and another angle...

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azaprune6.jpg (70.6 KB, 203 views)