Learn how to plant, prune, and care for one of spring’s favorite flowering shrubs
One mathematical group of plants you’re able to use to make a flower bridge between springiness and summer are azaleas ( Rhododendronspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) . As one of the most democratic shrubs in thesoutheastern United States , they can last for generations with proper organization and care . On the flip side , poor cultural practices can go gardener to disappointment . There are many character : native , nonnative , hybrids , reblooming , evergreen plant , and deciduous . No matter which eccentric you choose , many of the basics for growing great azaleas stay relatively uniform .
How to plant azaleas
find out how to the right way instal your new azalea will set you up for success . Before you institute , make indisputable your bush is well water . You do n’t want to plant an azalea accentuate from having a dry ancestor system . This is a skillful top for any bush you are planting .
Azaleas have a fine , stringy root system of rules and are shallowly settle . Not plant too deep is imperative . I asked azalea expert Robert “ Buddy ” Lee about institute azalea in the garden . Buddy has more than 40 year of experience in nursery direction , plant breeding , propagation , and fresh plant development , and his body of work includes developing the reblooming Encore group of hybrid azaleas . He told me , “ When planting , it ’s good to set the azalea root ball in the hole at least 2 to 3 inches above the grad of the bed . keep the works positioned correctly , backfill the jam with the available soil and secure it snugly into position . get over the top portion of the roots by mound the grease upward and over the roots . verify that you do not place more than a couple of inches of dirt on the top portion of the solution system . Then light mulch the ground around the plant life with no more than 2 to 3 inches of mulch . ”
Mulching is an authoritative step , as it helps manipulate green goddess , maintain moisture to the solution , and protect the roots from utmost temperature wavering . After planting , water the shrub well to off air pockets and settle the plant into the soil . For more planting tips , check out7 Mistakes to Avoid When Planting a Rhododendron .
Where to plant azaleas
The flower power of azaleas is what it ’s all about . sit plants in the most optimum location is the skilful way to maximise peak . Again , I asked Buddy for his tips to get the best bloom . “ Azaleas broadly speaking need about 4 to 6 hours or more per daylight of good Lord’s Day pic to get optimum bud formation and a denser outgrowth riding habit , ” he said . front for position in your garden with high - filtered shade and lots of indirect ambient light source . Avoid planting in inscrutable shade or full blaze sun . Too much shade can cause plant life to grow slimly leggier and subjugate the routine of prime buds . Too much sun can cause stress , and plants will ask frequent irrigation .
While new plant should receive regular irrigation to assist them establish , azaleas do not thrive in saturated soil . Do not found azalea in areas that debilitate slowly or systematically hold moisture . A precocious gardener can adapt these wetter sphere to grow azaleas by creating berms . Using an acidic soil conditioner , build up the raise berm with good garden soil . If engraft right and cared for appropriately , azaleas may produce well in location that are environmentally stressful . Overall , azalea do not like pixilated pes or to entirely dry out . find oneself this balance is important for achiever .
How to prune azaleas
Azaleas are well dress mightily after they bloom . As always , first ask yourself , “ Why do I want to prune ? ” Removing dead limb and improving the overall social system of your industrial plant should be your top reasons . If you are consistently rationalize to control size of it , think about supersede your azalea with a different cultivar more in scale with your landscape painting . Now more than ever , there are one C of cultivars to take from , grade from minor dwarfs that hug the ground to selections that mature to very large shrub .
If you ca n’t make a switch and need to maintain a certain height , again , prune immediately after spring flower . This pruning will boost plants to regenerate new outgrowth , which will grow and finally set buds later in the time of year . Do n’t be afraid to prune the occasional unruly subdivision if it helps to fit your garden ’s aesthetic . Most importantly , avoid pruning as colder weather condition approaches . Pruning stimulates growth , and unexampled growth will be sore to freezing temperature . For more on pruning azaleas , take a aspect at3 Ways to Prune Rhododendrons .
How to fertilize azaleas
It is expert to fertilise azaleas in the bound after bloom has faded . take care for an acidic character of fertilizer that has been develop for acidulent - filth - loving plant . In general , azaleas do not call for a wad of fertilizer , so do n’t overdo lotion . Do not fertilise azalea during periods of drought or in a dehydrated state . Plants should be well watered before diligence of fertilizer . Too much fertilizer , especially plant food not by rights spread or placed too close to your plant ’s base , can burn the fibrous root system . This can go to a weakening of the entire flora .
Picking the right azalea for your garden
If you have no azaleas in your landscape painting or your current plant are not thriving , I encourage you to keep researching . Many gardeners will add a sort of azalea to their gardens to give contrast and repetition of blooming over a longer period . to boot , there are so many types of azalea that the recommendations given here are good but somewhat general . Because of the vary conditions throughout the Southeast , it is heavy to give mantle recommendations . dissimilar cultivars and loan-blend perform differently throughout our region . Many of the new modern cultivars of azaleas are wonderful , peculiarly those that extend their note value in the garden through rebloom . Additionally , look for old , mature specimens in your sphere ; many of the onetime standby excerption top my list . calculate for azalea near your hometown that pink your socks off when they are in full bloom , and line up out what they are . This may be easiest at a public garden where industrial plant are clearly labeled .
For more information on azaleas and other rhododendron , check out :
And for more Southeast regional reports , get across here .
— Andy Pulte is a module phallus in the plant sciences department at the University of Tennessee .
Photos , unless otherwise remark : Andy Pulte
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Azaleas can bloom in a vast array of colors, prompting many gardeners to plant a rainbow of different selections.
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Mulching newly planted azaleas is critical to protect roots and control weeds.Photo: Karen Beaty
Most azaleas should not be planted in full sun but instead should receive partial shade.
Fertilizing your azalea with a product for acid-loving plants will help boost growth, but be sure not to overfertilize.Photo: Paula Gross
There is a wide range of azaleas for different situations and with different flower colors and bloom times. Some are native to the Southeast or are nativars like this ‘Hazel Hamilton’ Oconee azalea (Rhododendron flammeum‘Hazel Hamilton’, Zones 6–7).
