How to prune azaleas in Louisiana

"Most of us may not realize that azaleas represent the main nursery crop grown in many states in the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast. In Louisiana, they represent seven percent of all nursery plants grown." - LSU Agcenter

As you can see, azaleas are the most popular shrub in Louisiana as well as most of the southeast.  Anyone living in Louisiana or other gulf coast states would benefit from learning how to prune an azalea.

When to prune azaleas

Only prune azaleas to keep them at their current size or shape.  Pruning an azalea to make it smaller than it currently is will not only look awful, but will damage the azalea, possibly killing it. This is regularly done when an azalea has been planted too close to a sidewalk or parking lot. You will notice it has one side lacking any leaves or flowers and looks dead. Azaleas have very few leaves past the layer you see. Azaleas also experience the majority of their growth during one short period a year. This means if you cut an Azalea too close, you will have a reminder of it the rest of the year, and maybe longer.

Historically the first time you prune an azalea each year should be in April or May. Although with the warm winters as of late, this seems to be changing.  As a general rule  you should prune your azaleas a week or two after all of their flowers have fallen off. This rule is easy to follow for traditional azaleas. Some newer varieties, such as the encore, will bloom throughout the year.  It is still best to prune them shortly after they are done with a blooming period. Continue to trim the random shoot or two of new growth if they occur later in the year.

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How to prune  an azalea

1. You will need leather gloves and hand pruners.
   
2. Prune only the longest branches or shoots from the bush.
   
3. Cut the branches back to an inch or two within the azalea's natural foliage layer. This will allow the azalea to keep its natural shape and will also provide a fuller foliage and flower bloom.
   
4. Cut back all of the branches that jut out and cause a jagged appearance.
5. Use your hand pruners to test branches that may be dead by scratching the bark. If there is green underneath the bark, the branch is living. If it is brown underneath the bark, the branch is dead.
6. Cut any dead branches back to the next living branch.

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What to do if your azaleas are too big

If you have azaleas that have grown too large for the area they were planted due to poor planning and pruning, you have three options:

1. Prune the azalea back three weeks before they bloom to the desired height. Wait and see if they bloom and live. If they bloom and sprout leaves, you are in the clear.  If not, try option 2.
   
2. Replace your azalea with a dwarf variety. If it is mid winter to early spring and you didn't try option 1, you can transplant the old azaleas so they can continue to live.
   
3. Learn to love them.

Azalea Tips

• Keep azaleas in their natural semi-rounded shape.  Trying to make an azalea boxy not only looks atrocious, but will be a losing battle for you.
  
• Do not prune azaleas when they are excessively wet. This can lead to your azaleas contracting disease more easily.
  
• When you are done pruning is a great time to mulch. Not only will it accent your pruning spectacularly, it works wonders to cover up any clippings you "accidentally" left beneath the shrub.
  
• Use hedgers sparingly, if at all. If you do not wield hedgers like an extension of yourself, you will probably do more harm than good.