tidy azaleas

The main azalea flower show is over in most areas, so it’s time to give the plants some TLC. Prune to shorten long shoots and remove dead branches and twigs. Pluck off and bin any shrivelled brown flowers, as they can harbour the spores of azalea petal blight disease. Sprinkle azalea fertiliser over the root area, water in well and follow up with organic mulch. If the leaves were spoilt and discoloured by sap-sucking azalea lacebug in the last growing season, start spraying the undersides of the leaves regularly with water or insecticidal soap. If the pest numbers increase, try a few applications of neem oil, again beneath the leaves where the pests are active. Remember, azaleas have very shallow roots, so make sure you keep them well watered through the hot months.