Pruning Azaleas

Q: I know when and how to prune old-fashioned azaleas but I don’t know how to prune the kind that also bloom in the fall. Any tips? 

A: Reblooming azaleas (Encore, Bloom-a-Thon, etc.) are hybrid plants. They incorporate several different species of azalea. Each species contributes a tendency to bloom at a different time of year. Unlike old-fashioned azaleas, reblooming azaleas continue to set flower buds on new growth after spring blossoms fade. These buds produce summer flowers. Subsequent new growth produces a bloom display in fall. The best time to prune reblooming azaleas is after the spring flowers drop off. This leaves plenty of time for new growth to occur and gives continuous flowering until frost.