Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Hard Prune verses Digging Her Up?

BY SKEETER
The Azaleas are blooming here in my GEORGIA GARDENS! 

Last year the drought took its toll on the Driveway Island. I have already lost one Azalea in this garden a few years ago and now a second one was on its way out. 

The Saint and I had discussed this bush as to what we should do. The options were to dig it out of the ground and toss it into the compost heap. This was the Saints choice. I on the other hand, did not want to give up so easily. I opt for a hard pruning of the Bush. Pretty much to the ground with time left in the season for a bit of growth. And just look at the results this Spring!
 I am glad I opt for a HARD PRUNE VERSES DIGGING HER UP, In the Garden...
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

20 comments:

  1. That azalea is such a beautiful color. I'm glad you just hard pruned it too.

    Happy Spring and happy gardening ~ FlowerLady

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    1. These two azaleas are the first to bloom for us. They really brighten up the island garden. And Happy Spring to you too!

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  2. So glad you stood your ground and saved it! A hard pruning was just what it needed as those flowers are lovely!

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    1. Sometimes I win over the Saint Tina. Hee hee... I am thinking of giving the other one a hard prune also. It is looking mighty scraggly these days so maybe she needs a little hair cut as well...

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  3. Just lovely. That's what we do here & it works.

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    1. I do recall you mentioning a really big cutting day for your azaleas some time ago. I was not sure if it would come back but it seems the massive cut is what she needed!

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  4. I'm sure the Saint meant well, but obviously you were right--your azaleas are beautiful!

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    1. Rose, the Saint has been trying to get me to remove that entire planter since we moved into this house 12 years ago! LOL, makes it difficult for him to back the boat into the boat shed. I told him to lump it as my planter remains and he can learn to drive around it. I say, if he has worked around it for this long, he can continue. LOL....

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  5. Glad the pruning worked! Looks lovely!

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    1. Cameron, I prepare for the worse and hope for the best at times! This one paid off as I did not worry too much. I had lost the one already so would not have been surprised if a second were to go. The drought the past few years has been rough on the azaleas. They are mostly too far from the house for me to keep happy with water so they must rely on nature. I just hope the drought stays away for a while now...

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  6. Oh my how gorgeous. I wish I had better success with azaleas here in the frozen northcountry...

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    1. The first azaleas I ever saw were in Louisiana when I visited my Great Aunt as a teenager. I feel in love with them. I was so happy to find many upon our land when we purchased the house. Only issue is they are far from water and must rely on Nature's rainfalls. And we have been in a drought more so then not in the 12 years we have lived here! I have lost many of them but the ones remaining are gorgeous and I love them...

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  7. Skeeter, I'll have to be hard pruning my Northern Lights azalea some day, as it turned out to be a bigger cultivar than I'd expected. Silly me. Hope mine looks as healthy as yours.

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    1. Hello Helen, I did not know there was an azalea that would grow so far north! How exciting to find this out today! Hope you are having some warmer temps your way and ready for garden season. My gardens are soggy from so much rain but I am not complaining as we needed the rain so badly. Happy planting!

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  8. It turned out very well.

    When it is a choice between tossing and lesser measures, I always take the choice that gives a plant one more chance unless it is obviously diseased.

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    1. I know what you mean NellJean! I feel the same way about my plants as I view them as my baby's! I don't even pick the blooms often as I feel I am hurting them. Yes, I am silly about such things. We sure are enjoying the recent rains and also this beautiful weather such as today! Do not care for that silly Georgia Pine Pollen though...

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  9. Now that is an amazing recovery...just beautiful.

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  10. I can't wait for our blooming to get started here!!

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  11. Hi Skeeter...your Azaleas are just beautiful. I'm so glad you saved that one!

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  12. Well done Skeeter, good to know that a hard pruning will not kill the azalea....like when the deer 'prune' them.

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