Category: Encore Azalea

Encore + bonus by Vicki’s Nature

Once again readers of TheGardenLady.org can participate in the naming of a new flower.

Encore Azalea is having a contest (see here) to name one of their newest azalea varieties that will debut in the fall of 1012.

The winner gets 10 Encore Azaleas.

TheGardenLady would be so proud if the winner was one of her readers.  So I am hoping that readers will put their thinking caps on and show the Azalea world how clever you are. Submit your creative ideas before Nov. 25th.  Then let us know if you are a winner.

Encore Azalea by Connie@VA

Encore Azaleas wants you to know how to treat your azaleas during the hot days of summer.

The heat of summer can be harsh on all plants, and we at Encore® Azalea would like to help you prepare.

Keep a watchful eye on the moisture level of the soil around your Encore Azaleas.

The shallow fibrous roots like to be moist, but not saturated. A mulch of pine bark will help hold moisture near the roots, as well as protect the roots from the harsh rays of the sun.

This is your last chance to prune for the season. Any heavy pruning should be done immediately after your Encore Azalea’s spring bloom cycle. Remember only to prune lightly in high heat.

TheGardenLady received this question about planting Autumn Coral Encore Azaleas:

I’m planting Autumn Coral Encore Azalea in Zone 5, St. Louis and will follow suggested mulching program this fall. Has anyone had success with this or other Encore varieties in Zone 5? It’s hard to believe that this evergreen azalea wants 4-6 hrs of direct sunlight. St. Louis summers are brutally hot and very sunny overall. Standard evergreen azaleas usually perform best here in eastern or northern exposure or under large shade trees. Any thoughts on amount of sunlight?

The response to this question is comes directly from Encore Azalea.

The following information is for your Encore Azaleas and it comes from Encore® Azalea.

The heat of summer can be harsh on all plants, and we at Encore® Azalea would like to help you prepare.

Keep a watchful eye on the moisture level of the soil around your Encore Azaleas. The shallow fibrous roots like to be moist, but not saturated. A mulch of pine bark will help hold moisture near the roots, as well as protect the roots from the harsh rays of the sun.

This is your last chance to prune for the season. Any heavy pruning should be done immediately after your Encore Azalea’s spring bloom cycle. Remember only to prune lightly in high heat.

To find a retailer in your area, please visit www.EncoreAzalea.com.

Best Regards,

From your friends at Encore® Azalea

If you have bought Encore Azaleas, the only patented azalea that is said to bloom not only in the spring, but also in the summer and the fall, instead of contacting TheGardenLady with questions about those azaleas, EncoreAzalea now has an online digital/web magazine that answers all questions related to the Encore Azalea. Check out the site for the advice and information about the Encore Azalea.

Encore Azalea® has launched a new digital magazine that offers gardeners insight into all things related to Encore Azaleas, from planting tips and regional care to spacing suggestions.

Novice and master gardeners alike will enjoy the photos and articles while taking advantage of the easy care tips found in “Blooms.” The digital magazine can be viewed and downloaded here.

“Blooms” also features advice from Robert E. “Buddy” Lee, the inventor of Encore Azaleas and a well-known plant breeder. Lee offers his tips and techniques on soil amendment, planting, mulching, watering, and pruning.

Buddy’s care instructions are also available in Quicktime, or Windows Media format, or as an iTunes podcast. To download these easy-to-use files, visit EncoreAzalea and click the icon on the bottom of the home page.

Best regards,

From your friends at Encore Azalea®

TheGardenLady received the following question about Encore Azaleas.

We live in Belews Creek North Carolina. We planted 3 Encore Azaleas last spring, they bloomed all summer and fall, they lost their leaves in the winter and now we have no leaves, or buds. The limbs are bare but green, I have cut several and checked for dead signs but have found only green. This is spring and was looking foward to seeing their flowers. Any help will be appreciated.

Here is the answer from Encore Azaleas.

Cold damage can take a while to show up, causing the bark to split which interrupts the transport of water and nutrients throughout the shrub. Loss of foliage, especially during extremely cold weather, may occur, but doesn’t necessarily mean that the shrubs won’t bounce back.

If you have not already fertilized this spring, use a slow release granular fertilizer that is right for your area. Make sure the mix is well-balanced – the three numbers on the packaging are the same or similar. These numbers indicate the amount of nitrogen (promotes plant growth and for foliage), phosphorus (promotes blooms), and potassium (strengthens roots and stems). If your fertilizer contains more nitrogen than phosphorus, your azaleas will concentrate on growing rather than blooming.

Cold Hardiness
In a recently completed three-year cold hardiness study undertaken by the University of Tennessee, 19 of the 23 varieties of Encore Azaleas trialed in USDA Zone 6 demonstrated positive results.

Five varieties (Autumn Amethyst^TM, Autumn Cheer^TM, Autumn Royalty^TM, and Autumn Ruby^TM and Autumn Twist^TM) consistently exhibited solid cold hardiness throughout Zone 6A.

Autumn Sangria and Autumn Sweetheart showed success in protected locations in Zone 6A.

In Zone 6B, 18 varieties consistently exhibited solid cold hardiness:
Autumn Amethyst^TM, Autumn Angel^TM, Autumn Carnation^TM, Autumn Carnival^TM, Autumn Cheer^TM, Autumn Chiffon^TM, Autumn Debutante^TM, Autumn Embers^TM, Autumn Empress^TM, Autumn Monarch^TM, Autumn Princess^TM, Autumn Rouge^TM, Autumn Royalty^TM, Autumn Ruby^TM, Autumn Sangria^TM, Autumn Sunset^TM, Autumn Sweetheart^TM, Autumn Twist^TM (Autumn Belle^TM, Autumn Moonlight^TM, Autumn Sundance^TM were not trialed.)

As your Encores mature and get more established in their environment, they will be better able to withstand cold temperatures. Young plants are more susceptible to sudden, drastic drops in temperatures, and sustained cold weather (25 degrees or below).

Cold Protection
Mulch well (about 4 inches deep) in the fall. Reduce water for a month or so before the first frost. Then, after a couple of hard freezes, water well to provide moisture. This will help the plants to go dormant, or “harden off”.

As you would with any outdoor ornamental plants, Encore Azaleas may need some extra protection during sudden freezes and extremely cold weather. Sudden, drastic drops in temperature are more damaging than a gradual decline, especially to newly planted shrubs.

Burlap, old blankets, or sheets (any cloth material) can be used to cover upper plants. It is recommended that you drive stakes in the ground around your Encore and drape the cloth cover over stakes. Foliage in contact with the cover can be injured, so try to minimize cover contact with plant.

I hope you find this information helpful; keep me posted on your progress and let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.