Landscape Azaleas

[sikadelic]

Hey guys. I know it is certainly too late in the year to collect these, but I wanted to plan for next year.

I have never worked with azaleas before. Would it be ok to go ahead and cut a circle around the rootball and then collect next Spring? These have some good bones and I don't wanna kill them. The first 2 pics are the front and back of what I consider the best tree. The last pic of just one side of the 2nd tree.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Clicio]

Hi, @sikadelic , how do you intend to handle the multiple trunks? Sort of confusing in my point of view...

 

[GrimLore]

Would it be ok to go ahead and cut a circle around the rootball and then collect next Spring?

Yes, and those look healthy enough to cut the root ball down to 4 inches thick or so when you box them up. Highly recommend filtered sun as they are often found in full sun in our region that only works in the ground with good drainage.

They both look like the type I like to work with and I strongly recommend cutting them to 8 - 10 inches in height after removal.

Grimmy

 

[0soyoung]

I think August/September is the best time to dig and pot azaleas.
Just be careful to keep the hairy mat of fine roots, just like you would in spring.

 

[sikadelic]

Thanks guys..like I said, this will be my first round with Azaleas. These guys have been in this flower bed that lines a small patio area. We just bought this home and I noticed them right away...thank god my wife wants them out!

They have been getting full sun for about 4 hours and then the sun passes over the house. I know they hadn't been fertilized or trimmed at all so there's a lot of dieback that I am cutting out. I will try to find some acidic spikes or something to give them a boost.

I didn't know I could dig them this year so I am looking forward to fall even more now. I'll keep you guys updated when I get to work on them.

 

[0soyoung]

I will try to find some acidic spikes or something to give them a boost.

Unless they have chlorosis (i.e., leaves are yellow with green veins), I think you are likely to get into difficulties by doing this. Just use a balanced fert.

 

[sikadelic]

Unless they have chlorosis (i.e., leaves are yellow with green veins), I think you are likely to get into difficulties by doing this. Just use a balanced fert.

There's a bit of yellowing but nothing significant. It does look to be healthy...just a bit gangly and unkept for a while.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Really important to keep the fine roots close to the trunk. When you lift it, don't mess with the close roots at all. I have had good luck transplanting landscape azaleas into an Anderson grow flat, in a pumice / peat mix, and pruning to the trunk hard. Complete defoliation with all cuts sealed. In a month the whole trunk will burst out with buds.

Watch the sun. They can take it when it's cool, but they are much happier in dappled light.

 

[makarovnik]

Rolling Rock! The problem is the top is still on.
I like them. especially the first pic. the back looks tough to work with but I am saying this knowing I will dig up anything I can if I had any kind of material in my yards. I collected one late spring and it didn't make it.

 

[iant]

I agree with keeping the fine roots and not messing with the rootball close to the base! I bare rooted 2 once in the spring and one died and one barely hung on....
Ian

 

[j evans]

So what did you have to trade the wife to get permission to dig them, dishes for a month? They are nice even if that is the case, congrats!

 

[KingJades]

I think August/September is the best time to dig and pot azaleas.
Just be careful to keep the hairy mat of fine roots, just like you would in spring.

Is August/September really the best time to collect? Does this hold true in zone 6? I know nothing on the subject, but I have recently come into the ability to collect an older garden azalea and thought it wasn't a great time of year to do so.

Why is this time of year particularly good?

Are there any good videos on collecting field azalea for bonsai?

Thank you!

 

[Dav4]

If you're planning to chop, I'd do it now while they're still in the ground. You'll get lot's of back budding and probable some descent growth before the fall, and some descent callus formation, too. Personally, I'd wait until late winter to grab these, then bare root them and into your preferred soil mix. Have fun!

 

[0soyoung]

Is August/September really the best time to collect? Does this hold true in zone 6? I know nothing on the subject, but I have recently come into the ability to collect an older garden azalea and thought it wasn't a great time of year to do so.

Why is this time of year particularly good?

My explanation is that all the new foliage is hardened (which means photosynthetically and hormonally active) and available to power the growth of roots = recovery from transplanting/repotting root damage. It is true in zone 8 where I now live as well as in the zone 5 places I've previously lived.

Photosynthesis centers around the activity of RuBisCo that tops out around 95F. Hotter than this and the plant burns more sugar than gets made by photosynthesis. So don't transplant/repot when the bulk of the daylight hours are above 95F.

 

[sikadelic]

Hey all. Hope your weather was as beautiful as mine was today. I took the day off after being out of town for training and spent the day outside prepping our first garden at the new house and digging drain lines. As we brought the drain down, I had to go ahead and dig out one of the 1 trees I posted above last year.

I gave it a reasonable chop but left some gree as I have never worked one before. I was pretty brutal on the roots but didn't work out the fine roots close to the trunk as recommend above. Here's the pics for now and I'll update later on (meathook for scale).

 

[GrimLore]

Here's the pics for now

Nice job, go lower on the next one though, save yourself a year or two If it never is allowed to dry out completely and can be kept in a shaded area you will be amazed in 4 - 5 weeks with the flush of new growth!

Grimmy

 

[sikadelic]

Thanks Grim. I may go back and cut a little lower after the first flush of growth. I forgot to seal them so if I get some die back, I may cut back to that point and ACTUALLY seal it this time. But I'm excited to work with it and I have 1 or 2 more in the landscaping to pull later on. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[GrimLore]

Thanks Grim. I may go back and cut a little lower after the first flush of growth. I forgot to seal them so if I get some die back, I may cut back to that point and ACTUALLY seal it this time. But I'm excited to work with it and I have 1 or 2 more in the landscaping to pull later on. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Wait until it is dormant next year for another cutback, trust me on that. Honest if it were mine I would cut and seal NOW and save a year - they either bud or don't as all other collected plants.

Looks like a fun project though!

Grimmy

 

[sikadelic]

@GrimLore - I'm gonna take your advice and chop it back before it starts to bud...something like this. I'll update. Thanks!

 

[GrimLore]

I'll update. Thanks!

Great! time travels on so fast as we grow older a year saved is always an asset! For the record I learned this works from others here and personal experience. Odd - seems @johng cannot be tagged but oh well... I do have all of his notes saved in a file for reference here and will always share as he agreed to it a few years ago.

Grimmy