Can I prune my Azelea now?

[longd_au]

Hi

I clipped off all the flowers of my Azalea in spring last year and then re-potted it a week or two later. I also gave it a light prune and removed some cross over roots.
Since then, it has regenerated really well and became thick with growth and have started flowering again.
The flowers are just opening this week.

I have a few questions that I hope some experience people here can help me with.

1. Is it normal for Azalea to flower in spring and again in late summer?
2. Is it safe to do some heavy pruning now since it is flowering? I want to remove some branches.
3. I don't plan to re-pot it again until spring but is it safe to do so now for future reference?

Thanks.

[kcpoole]

Azaleas can spot flower all thru summer and I pruned mine only a few weeks ago with no issues

Ken

[shibui]

You should be able to prune azalea any time of year. I have successfully dug and root pruned azaleas all through summer - collected a few more a couple of weeks ago and they are putting out new buds now. I suspect they can be root pruned and re potted any time of year but I would be reluctant to do so twice in one year.

[lakepipes]

Hi,

You can prune now, but you may not get flowers next spring if your azalea has set the buds already.
You may trim them off in your prune.

Just a thought.

Mike

[longd_au]

Thanks for all your responses.
I will prune it next Spring and make use of this time to let it thicken.