Q: When I bought my home, I discovered some wild azaleas in my back yard. They have bloomed beautifully for years. Do they require pruning?

A: Wild azaleas are quite a find on your property. Most of the native species bloom later than the oriental azaleas whose blossoms will begin appearing here in a few weeks.

Even so, the same pruning rule applies to all rhododendrons and azaleas, native or imported: prune after they bloom.

If your wild azaleas are well-formed, there is no particular reason to prune them. If one has been smashed by a falling limb, though, it may be necessary to prune away a great deal of what remains, in order to repair damage and to help the shrub regain its shape.