Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing to plant
• Part 2 of 3: Planting the azalea
• Part 3 of 3: Pruning the azalea
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Bright pink, red and white azaleas brighten up many gardens every spring. They are quite easy to plant and if you take good care of them you will be greeted by their enchanting flowers year after year. Evergreen varieties keep the garden colorful, even during the winter months. See Step 1 to learn how to plant azaleas and keep them healthy for years to come.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Preparing to plant

1. Choose the right azalea for your garden. Azaleas are widely grown because they thrive with our mild winters and long summers. Azaleas are strong plants that do not require much in the sense of placement. Different types of azaleas have slightly different needs, so pay attention to which type you choose to make sure you will be satisfied with the results.
   • Azaleas are available in two main classes: American azaleas, which grow like tendrils and do not require pruning, and Asian azaleas, which grow like shrubs.
   • Asian azaleas are available in two varieties, both of which are evergreen:
     • Kurume hybrids. These are bright red and will hold in place well. They can be planted in pots, in raised flower beds or directly in the ground, and do not grow taller than 0.9 to 1.2 meters. They do not require much maintenance.
     • South Indian hybrids on the other hand, grow very tall and tall. They come in many colors, especially bright pink and white, and can easily grow large enough to cover a window or door. If you have a lot of space this could be a good choice for you, but you will need to prune them from time to time.
   • A nearby nursery or garden center can recommend the type of azalea to plant in your garden. Descriptions and examples can be found online and in garden centers. Stick to a type of azalea, or place many different colors in the garden for variation.
2. Choose a shady place to plant. Find a spot in the yard or field with some shade - "partial shade," as many gardeners call it. This particular blend of shade and sunlight is perfect for azaleas. If you plant them in full sun, they won't grow as well. Azaleas flower especially well when planted under shady trees.
   • There are deciduous azalea varieties that do well in full sun, consider them if you don't have much shade available.
3. Make sure the soil is well-drained. Azaleas need soil that drains very well and does not retain water after a rain shower. To determine if the soil where you plan to plant your azalea is well-drained, dig a hole before it rains and check again afterwards. If the hole is filled with a layer of water, the soil will not drain properly; it probably contains a lot of clay. When the water is gone, it is good for azaleas.
   • If the soil is not well-drained, you can mix in compost or some other organic matter to loosen it up. Shovel it to a depth of several inches to break it loose, then mix in the other well-drained material. Another option is to plant your azalea in a pot or raised flower bed where you can more easily control soil drainage.
4. Determine the acidity of the soil. Azaleas like a slightly acidic soil, for example a pH of 5.5 or 6. If a soil test shows that you have an alkaline soil, mix some sulfur into the soil to balance it before planting.
   • Avoid planting azaleas near concrete sidewalks, driveways, or foundations that can leach lime (which can increase the pH of nearby soil).

Part 2 of 3: Planting the azalea

1. Dig a hole and plant the azalea. Use a garden shovel to dig a hole in the ground deep enough to cover the root ball and bottom of the plant. Dig a few inches wider than the root ball and set the azalea upright in the hole so that the top of the root ball is slightly above the surface of the soil. Put soil in the hole around the plant. Divide it around and under the azalea, gently pressing it into place with your fingertips.
   • Wet the azalea before planting. Dip the root ball in a bucket of water, or use a garden hose to moisten it slightly before putting the azalea in the ground.
   • If you are planting more than one azalea, make sure to space the holes about three feet apart.
2. Water the azalea plant. Water the plant and soil slowly and thoroughly. Water again the day after planting. The plants should be watered at least once a week, except when in full sun, in which case they should be watered more often. Be careful not to let the azalea dry out or it will wilt.
3. Sprinkle mulch over the area around azalea plants after flowering diminishes. Use pine bark, pine needles, sawdust or wood chips between the shrubs. This will keep the soil moist and the soil temperature even. Mulch also helps keep weeds away.
4. Fertilize the azalea as needed. If your soil is rich and acidic, you don't need to fertilize often. If you do choose to fertilize, do it in the spring, just after the azaleas bloom. Use an acid-forming fertilizer, such as cottonseed meal, or choose a special azalea fertilizer.
   • Fertilizing improperly can cause the plant to bloom at the wrong time, so be sure to fertilize only when necessary.

Part 3 of 3: Pruning the azalea

1. Cut away any dead branches in the spring. Pruning azaleas early will help direct the plant's energy to create new growth. Assess your azalea to find dead branches and other parts that need to be pruned. Use hand pruners to prune the azaleas. Trim any dead branches.
   • Don't overdo it with this early season pruning. Any healthy branch you cut is one that could have made beautiful spring flowers. If you want to drastically change the shape of your azalea, wait until later in the summer.
2. After the flowers diminish, do a superficial pruning. Now is the time to reshape your azalea bush if you wish. Cut long, stray shoots next to woody branches to maintain the azalea's natural shape. Cut back areas that appear too crowded to allow for more air flow and improve the shrub's appearance. Make sure to cut carefully - don't use hedge trimmer to trim the shrub against your will.
   • Also, don't prune too late in the year. Prune no later than three weeks after the flowers have disappeared - otherwise, you'll cut off next year's flower growth.
3. Do a drastic pruning if necessary. If you have an azalea that has grown large and you are ready to cut it down, you can safely cut it to 12 inches above the ground and it will grow back full and nice. Do this after the spring bloom is over, so the plant has time to recover for the next phase of growth.

Tips

• While many people do away with azaleas after they bloom once, you can get them to bloom again by exposing them to cold weather for two months.
• Prevent fungal infections by using an anti-fungal spray if you discover petal blight (petals turn brown and soft), or leaf gall emerges (small white spores that can turn brown).

Warnings

• Try to keep the soil pH slightly acidic, with an ideal value between 4.5 to 5.5 pH.
• Do not fertilize azaleas. It can cause the plant to flower at the wrong time.

Necessities

• Raised flower bed or pot
• Ground
• Azalea plant (s)
• Water
• Hand pruners
• Mulch