Care of Azaleas
If planted in a favorable location
and given the proper growing conditions, azaleas are easy, carefree, and
long-lived plants. The trick is in having, creating, or finding those favorable
growing conditions.
Choosing a Location
Azaleas can grow in sun as well as in shade, but their flowering season
will be longer with morning sun and afternoon shade.
An azalea needs to be...
Well-drained, but moist. Azalea
feeder roots extend only about 8 inches into the soil and need to be watered
during times of drought. They do not thrive in soggy wet areas.
Well-supplied with peat moss, chopped oak leaves, or oak compost to
keep the soil relatively acid (pH
below 6.0) and light.
Sheltered from drying winter winds
by a building, evergreens, or other shrubs
Perfect spots:
The north, northeast, or east sides
of a building or stand of evergreens
Filtered shade under tall trees
Proper Planting
Azaleas can be planted at ANY TIME of the growing
year, even when in full bloom. Spring and fall are ideal times for planting.
Summer is okay if you give extra care to watering.
Azaleas should be planted high, with 1/8 to 1/4
of the rootball above the existing ground level. This ensures proper drainage.
Dig the planting hole at least twice as wide as the rootball.
If the azalea has been in a container, be sure
to loosen the roots gently. Place the plant in the hole, add a mix of original
soil and peat moss or composted leaves, and pack in firmly. Mound the soil
up to the top of the rootball. Water in well, and mulch 2-3" deep
making sure to keep mulch away from the stem of the plant.
Summer Care of Azaleas
Watering
For the first season, the spring and summer waterings
should be done two to three times a week until fall. In a dry fall, water
once a week until Christmas. Check the moisture in the soil; it should
be lightly moist several inches down. Azaleas need more water during summer
and when in flower.
Pruning
Azaleas rarely need to be pruned. When pruning
is required, it should be done immediately after blooming. Or, use azaleas
as cut flowers and prune them that way. Azaleas may be sheared, as they
will send out new shoots anywhere on a branch.
Fertilizing
One of the most common mistakes with azaleas
is overfeeding. They are extremely sensitive to excessive levels of nitrogen
around their fibrous roots. They do benefit, however, from infrequent light
feeding with a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants. In good garden
soils, little fertilization should be necessary.
If you are using organic mulches such as wood
chips, sawdust, or shredded oak leaves, additional nitrogen will be needed.
Winter Care of Azaleas
Protection from winter wind and sun is especially
important for the evergreen varieties. Due to their shallow root systems,
azaleas cannot reach below the frost line and transmit water to their leaves
when the ground is frozen. Yet their evergreen leaves constantly transpire
water, even in the coldest winter. Sun and wind at this vulnerable time
can be deadly.
Apply several inches of mulch to protect roots
by moderating the soil temperature. This process will also lessen damage
from rapid freezing and thawing. Remove the mulch in stages in spring as
the weather warms. For especially windy or unprotected locations, try a
burlap screen to protect azaleas from winter dehydration.
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