I have many large and old azaleas in my shady yard. They bloom

Question

prolifically each spring and are simply gorgeous. I've decided I'd like to prune them back some to reduce their size. I just Googled to find out about when and how to do this, and read that there are two ways to prune, and the way to reduce their size shouldn't be done past the first week in July. Will this really hurt their blooms that much next spring? I'm de-jungling my yard and making the azaleas a bit smaller would be a good addition to that effort. Here's what I found about cutting them back. http://apps.caes.uga.edu/urbanag/home&garden/indexFS.cfm?storyid=2669

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Azaleas have already got their blooms for next year and if you cut them back you will not have the gorgeous display of blooms you have now. I would wait until after they bloom next spring. How full do they look now with just leaves? If anything prune the dead branches out and any branches that do not look good. What do they look like now because they look spectacular in the spring!

Louise · Answer

They look very full now. I'll take some pix and post them.

Nancy Hand · Answer

I would wait Louise! After they put on their show next spring chop away. :)

Patti Nicholas · Answer

Azaleas set their buds almost immediately after blooming so by pruning this late in the season you will remove all the buds for next year.

Louise · Answer

Sigh . . . . But I want to trim them but I also want blooms. Guess I'll just have to wait.

Louise · Answer

Here's how they look now, without flowers.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Louise, they look great and I only see a couple dead branches(?) I would leave this just the way it is and plant in front of you azaleas. I see you have a couple hosta and even a heuchera. I would put them closer together and fill in the areas. In the 3rd pic is that liriope? or daylilies? This is a glorious area and I would make a secret garden behind the azaleas in the 3rd pic.

Nancy Hand · Answer

Louise I'm not sure but in picture 3 looks like poison ivy going up the pine. Is it? be careful. It will look great next year after they bloom a good pruning. :)

Louise · Answer

No, it's Virginia creeper. I usually keep it pulled out, but still need to get to this one.

Louise · Answer

Renee, I have 4 heucheras, one newly planted this year and the others from last year. I guess it might be due to the variety, but they grow at vastly different rates of speed. I figured they'd fill in with each other, so some of them haven't. And I have lots of hostas. The ones you see in the 2nd photo haven't filled it like I'd thought they would, either, so I've thought I should dig up some in some very crowded areas to fill in. As to the 'secret garden' area, ivy and poison ivy has had a field day there this year and I'm afraid to walk in that area. I visualize snakes being there, so am making plans to have someone clear it out or spray it all to kill it.

Michelle Eliker · Answer

Wow, I wish my azaleas looked that great. Wait to prune them or they'll look like mine next spring :(

Lovesunique · Answer

My azaleas are spindly, fragile looking things year after year. They do bloom. Took the advice of cutting back and I got a lot of new shoots and bright green foliage. Hoping to have lots of flowers this time around.

Sharon · Answer

Very pretty, makes me want to plant more....

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I have many large and old azaleas in my shady yard. They bloom

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