Ann Huyler, attendees, Carmen Ketron and Brittney King take part in Patrick’s annual azalea pruning event.
The town of Patrick pairs yearly plant maintenance with a hands-on educational event with its annual Azalea Pruning Event. It’s a way to maintain the town’s beautiful 28-year-old white, pink and red azaleas, but it’s also an opportunity for citizens of Patrick and Cheraw to learn how to properly prune.
On June 6 and 7, Mayor Privette led the event and made sure everyone had pruning tools, gloves and plenty of cold water. SCFC Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler, Clemson Extension’s Urban Horticulture Agent Carmen Ketron and Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent Brittney King assisted. Ketron and King taught attendees about proper pruning tools and showed how, where and what to prune on azaleas.
Under their guidance, attendees pruned azaleas along U.S. Highway 1, removing dead and dying limbs, crossed limbs causing wounds and leggy limbs jutting out from the top and the sides. After, the two demonstrated techniques to propagate azaleas from limb tip cutting and rooted stems. Attendees were offered free rooted cuttings to plant at home.
Missed this event? The 2026 Annual Azalea Pruning Event is already scheduled for May 22 – 23. Mark your calendar!