I've been house-sitting and my homeowner gave me some instructions on trimming their azalea bushes. She mentioned trimming off the 'new' growth from this year and specifically told me to remove the 'center' buds from the older growth. I'm really confused about what she means by 'center buds' and how to do this without screwing it up. I want to make sure I do it right but also don't want to ask her and admit I'm lost. Can anyone clarify this for me?
2 Answers
If you're still unsure, there are plenty of helpful videos on YouTube about pruning azaleas. A general search can also yield some useful guides that'll show you how to handle it, including those tricky center buds.
It sounds like your homeowner is referring to the buds located in the middle of the clusters of leaves at the ends of the branches. When you prune those center buds, it helps slow down rapid growth and encourages a denser bush overall. Just make sure to look closely and get those in the center!
Got it! I checked, and I can see those center buds all over the bush, not just at the top. Sounds like I'm on the right track!
I’ve tried searching online, but I didn't find much on center buds specifically, so that’s why I turned to this post. Appreciate the suggestion!