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How to Prune Azaleas Download Article A complete overview of annual maintenance and pruning techniques Reviewed by Ben Barkan
Last Updated: May 22, 2025 Approved
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Doing an Annual Maintenance Pruning
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Doing a Drastic Pruning
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Video
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
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Warnings
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Things You'll Need
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This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 31 testimonials and 97% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 410,854 times.
Pink, red and white azaleas adorn lawns across the South every spring. These shrubs are hardy and easy to care for because they thrive in many locations and conditions. Learn how to prune azaleas to keep them blooming brightly year after year.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Doing an Annual Maintenance Pruning
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1 Know your azalea. Azaleas are available in two main classes: native azaleas and Asian azaleas. Native azaleas grow like vines, and they don't need pruning. If you have an Asian azalea shrub, it could be one of two main evergreen varieties:
Kurume hybrids are usually bright red and don't tend to grow very large - no more than 3 or 4 feet (0.9 or 1.2 m). They do well with some maintenance pruning, but they may never need much pruning at all.
Southern Indian hybrids grow very large and fast, and are most likely to need pruning - especially if you have one planted near your house.
Take note that when you're picking out azaleas to plant, choosing a Kurume instead of a Southern Indian will be your best bet if you don't want to worry as much about maintenance.
2 Disinfect your pruning tools. Wipe down the shears to make sure that you do not spread diseases between plants. You can use a household disinfecting spray, bleach, or rubbing alcohol. Let it dry before you prune.[1]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Clip out dead stems in the spring. Even though both varieties of evergreen azalea should survive the winter, you'll probably see a few dead or diseased looking stems and branches in the shrub come spring. Use hand trimmers (or loppers, for thicker branches) to remove dead or damaged stems where they connect with healthy wood.
Try to make as clean and small of a cut as possible, so that the healthy wood isn't left with a large cut in it; this can be an entry point for fungus and disease.
4 Trim the bush carefully after the flowers are gone. When spring comes and goes and the bright flowers begin to die, it's time to do your annual light pruning. Use hand trimmers to carefully trim back long stems. Make careful cuts in order to improve the shape of the bush. Trim back areas that seem too crowded, and don't overdo it in the thinner areas.
Don't take hedge clippers and shear the bush into shape. Make precise, carefully selected cuts instead. Otherwise, you're needlessly creating spots on the plant where no flowers will bloom.
5 Don't prune beyond three weeks after the flowers have died. In general, you should not prune after July. If you wait too long and prune in late summer or fall, you'll be taking off the maturing buds that will turn into next spring's flowers. If you forget to prune, it's best to just wait until the following spring, unless you don't mind having gaps in your blooms.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Doing a Drastic Pruning
Download Article
1 Assess your azalea. You probably don't need to do a drastic pruning unless you have a Southern Indian azalea that has gotten quite large. If your bush has started to obscure windows and take up room you'd like to use for other plantings, you can trim it back drastically without causing long-term harm. Decide how much you want to trim back your azalea, and have a shape in mind when you start making cuts.
2 Cut each branch to within a foot of the ground. You can safely cut it back this much without worrying that the shrub will die. Use loppers or a hand saw if necessary to cut back the individual branches. Aim for a rounded shape on top. above the ground and cut the remaining branches to about 2 feet (0.61 m) in length.
3 Fertilize the azalea. Use slow release fertilizer labeled 12-6-6 to keep the plant healthy while it restores itself. Keep it watered until the following spring. You won't have to wait an extra season to see more flowers; your drastically pruned azalea should produce plenty of leaves and flowers in the spring.[2]XResearch source
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Expert Q&A
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Question Are used coffee grounds good for azaleas? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer They are a great way to naturally improve the acidity of the soil for plants that like acidic soil. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 14 Helpful 30
Question Can azaleas be cut back to the ground? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer Trimming azaleas to the ground can kill the plant. It is better to cut one main branch to 6 inches above the ground and cut the remaining branches to about 2 feet in length. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 13
Question How do you prune an azalea bush? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer The best time to prune is as the flowers discolor and shrivel. Trimming them at this time will ensure they continue to blossom. If you're cutting them at other times, you can cut the flower buds which will stop the plant from blooming. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 11
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Video
Tips
For the most attractive and healthy azaleas, prune them every 3 to 4 years. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
If you prune any branches from your azalea bushes that appear diseased, wipe the pruning shears with diluted bleach prior to trimming the next branch. This will help to prevent the spread of disease to healthy branches. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Azaleas only bloom once a year in the spring. The best time to prune azalea bushes is right after the blooms fade. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Fungus can develop on azalea branches in late summer, resulting in wilted leaves and dead branches. If you notice these changes in your azalea bushes, prune them back until you see white-colored wood to prevent the fungus from spreading. Thanks Helpful 63 Not Helpful 13
Do not attempt to prune azalea bushes into shapes like squares. Because of the way the branches will continue to grow, they will not retain shapes and will end up looking misshapen. Thanks Helpful 53 Not Helpful 18
Do not prune azaleas after July or they might not bloom the following season. Azaleas produce new buds around this time of year, and if you cut them off, they will not reproduce new buds until the following summer. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
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Things You'll Need
Azalea bushes
Pruning shears
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Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 410,854 times. 41 votes - 97% Co-authors: 18Updated: May 22, 2025 Views: 410,854 Categories: Growing Flowers | Growing Trees and ShrubsArticle SummaryX
Before you prune your azaleas, make sure to disinfect your pruning shears by wiping them with down with some bleach or rubbing alcohol. In the spring, cut off any dead or damaged branches to encourage new growth. A week or 2 after the flowers have fallen off your azaleas, go in for a more thorough pruning by carefully trimming areas that seem crowded or damaged. Don't go overboard; just make a few selective cuts to keep your plant healthy. For tips from our Horticulturist reviewer on how to fertilize your azaleas, scroll down!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Anonymous
Jul 16, 2016
"I am new at planting stuff, but so far everything I have planted came up OK. I think it is because when I plant something, I ask God to help me. So I stick it in the ground and He sends the rain and the sun. Together we do pretty good. My azalea are looking sharp."..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer Co-authors: 18Updated: May 22, 2025 Views: 410,85497% of readers found this article helpful. 41 votes - 97% Click a star to add your vote 97% of people told us that this article helped them.
Anonymous
Jul 16, 2016
"I am new at planting stuff, but so far everything I have planted came up OK. I think it is because when I plant something, I ask God to help me. So I stick it in the ground and He sends the rain and the sun. Together we do pretty good. My azalea are looking sharp."..." more
Jeannie Clarey
May 14, 2017
"Timing for pruning, learning it is not required yearly. A gentle approach to the azalea limbs. While the drastic cut was shocking to see, it was the right thing to do. Our boxy huge azaleas are now able to breathe and bloom fully, not just on the tips."..." more
Dan Buehl
Sep 11, 2020
"Our azaleas have not been trimmed for several years and are overgrown but healthy. Your article provided clear directions on how to proceed with the pruning. It is now September. We plan to wait until after the next bloom in May to trim the azaleas."..." more
Anonymous
Jul 25, 2017
"I hired a professional from a landscaping service to cut back my azaleas in July. Unknown to me, he used a chainsaw. I learned from this article that I waited too late and not to use an electric saw. Will fertilize and water, and wait for spring."..." more
David McLanahan
Feb 10, 2017
"I must have the Indian variety, because they are big and healthy. I cut them back too much, but I got lots of trims to root in small pots. That in itself is a challenge. My regret is no blooms this spring. I am leaving them alone till next year."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article A complete overview of annual maintenance and pruning techniques Reviewed by Ben Barkan 
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Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 410,854 times. 41 votes - 97% Co-authors: 18 Updated: May 22, 2025 Views: 410,854 Categories: Growing Flowers | Growing Trees and Shrubs Article SummaryX
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1 Know your azalea. Azaleas are available in two main classes: native azaleas and Asian azaleas. Native azaleas grow like vines, and they don't need pruning. If you have an Asian azalea shrub, it could be one of two main evergreen varieties: 
2 Disinfect your pruning tools. Wipe down the shears to make sure that you do not spread diseases between plants. You can use a household disinfecting spray, bleach, or rubbing alcohol. Let it dry before you prune.[1] Advertisement 
3 Clip out dead stems in the spring. Even though both varieties of evergreen azalea should survive the winter, you'll probably see a few dead or diseased looking stems and branches in the shrub come spring. Use hand trimmers (or loppers, for thicker branches) to remove dead or damaged stems where they connect with healthy wood. 
4 Trim the bush carefully after the flowers are gone. When spring comes and goes and the bright flowers begin to die, it's time to do your annual light pruning. Use hand trimmers to carefully trim back long stems. Make careful cuts in order to improve the shape of the bush. Trim back areas that seem too crowded, and don't overdo it in the thinner areas. 
5 Don't prune beyond three weeks after the flowers have died. In general, you should not prune after July. If you wait too long and prune in late summer or fall, you'll be taking off the maturing buds that will turn into next spring's flowers. If you forget to prune, it's best to just wait until the following spring, unless you don't mind having gaps in your blooms. Advertisement 
1 Assess your azalea. You probably don't need to do a drastic pruning unless you have a Southern Indian azalea that has gotten quite large. If your bush has started to obscure windows and take up room you'd like to use for other plantings, you can trim it back drastically without causing long-term harm. Decide how much you want to trim back your azalea, and have a shape in mind when you start making cuts. 
2 Cut each branch to within a foot of the ground. You can safely cut it back this much without worrying that the shrub will die. Use loppers or a hand saw if necessary to cut back the individual branches. Aim for a rounded shape on top. above the ground and cut the remaining branches to about 2 feet (0.61 m) in length. 
3 Fertilize the azalea. Use slow release fertilizer labeled 12-6-6 to keep the plant healthy while it restores itself. Keep it watered until the following spring. You won't have to wait an extra season to see more flowers; your drastically pruned azalea should produce plenty of leaves and flowers in the spring.[2] Advertisement 
Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.