How Far Do You Prune an Azalea Bush?

Time to Prune

• Prune azalea bushes after they've bloomed for the season, when the flowers have started to wilt. Do not prune the bushes late into the summer season, which may encourage new growth that frost can damage. However, you can perform some light pruning in early summer even when the bush is in full bloom. Pruning the bush while it's in bloom provides gardeners with attractive cut flowers, and encourages the bush to produce new flowers before the summer season is over.

Healthy Pruning

• Light pruning is fine if you want flowers, but you have to do serious pruning at least once a year to keep azalea bushes healthy. First, examine the plant for any signs of dead or damaged wood. Remove all of these unhealthy branches in their entirety, cutting back to the main trunk or to healthy wood if any is present. Always use clean pruning shears to avoid spreading disease that may harm the azalea.

Size Pruning

• Azalea bushes may grow with spindly, leggy growth or become too large if you don't prune them for size. Maintaining a contained, pleasing overall shape through pruning will keep azaleas healthy and attractive. Trim branches that are growing too long back to the nearest branch joint. Even when you're pruning heavily, never remove more than 1/4 of the shrub. Cutting the shrub back severely will cause shock to the plant.

Maintenance

• Azalea bushes don't grow neatly. Prune away all branches growing close the ground, leaving 1 foot of free space around the plant to provide air flow. Small suckers may appear around the base of the plant. If you don't prune the suckers away, they will establish new, unhealthy, unattractive growth. When pruning in spring, remember to leave some year-old branches intact; it's from here that the season's blossoms will grow.