Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

Bright white, pink or red azaleas light up the garden every spring. Azaleas are fairly easy to grow, and with good care, each year you will be greeted with splendid blooming seasons. The evergreen azaleas will give your yard a cheerful color even during the winter months. Take a look at step 1 below to learn how to grow azaleas and care for them in the years to come.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Preparing to plant trees

1. 

   Choose a azalea flower that is right for your garden. Azaleas are popularly grown in the southern United States, because they thrive during mild winters and long summers. Azaleas are sturdy plants and are less picky about soil. The needs of different species of azaleas are slightly different, so be sure to choose one that will satisfy you. Azaleas are classified into two main species:
   • Native rhododendron, grows like a vine and requires no pruning. They are deciduous (leaves fall in winter) and can tolerate warmer temperatures.
   • Asian azaleas grow into bushes and are divided into two groups, both of which are evergreen:
     • Kurume hybrids. These azaleas have bright red flowers and grow well in one place, can be grown in pots, raised pots or directly to the ground. They are not taller than 0.9 - 1.2 m and do not require much care.
     • Southern Indian hybrids (South India)on the contrary, grows very tall and large. This variety of colors, especially white and pink, can easily grow so tall that it can cover windows or doors. If you have a lot of space, this azalea can be a good choice, but sometimes you need to prune.
   • Nurseries can recommend different types of azaleas in your area. There are many varieties of azaleas described online or in orchards and gardening centers. You can plant one type of azalea or a combination of different types to enrich your garden.

2. 

   
   
   Choose a shade place. Find a place in the garden with “speckled” sunlight, as many azaleas love this kind of light. A blend of shade and sunshine is the perfect condition for azaleas. If you plant in full sun, they won't do very well. According to azalea lovers, this flower blooms best when planted under the shade of a tree.
   • There are deciduous azaleas that thrive in full sun, so check out these if you have little shade in your yard.

3. 

   
   
   Make sure the soil is well drained. Azaleas need to live on soil with good drainage, not holding water after rain. To determine drainage where you plan to plant, dig a hole before it rains and check again after it rains. If the hole is full of standing water, the soil is not well drained; Perhaps the clay ratio is too high. If the water is drained, it is a good place to plant the azalea.
   • If the soil is not well drained, you can mix compost or organic matter to loosen the soil. Dig to a depth of about 1 meter to loosen the soil, then mix with material with good drainage. Another option is to plant azaleas in pots or raised pots for easier control of drainage.

4. 

   
   
   Determination of soil acidity. Azaleas prefer slightly acidic soils with a pH between 5.5 or 6. If the soil is alkaline, mix a little sulfur in the soil to balance it before planting.
   • Avoid planting azaleas near sidewalks, sidewalks or concrete, where lime may be absorbed (increases the pH of the surrounding soil).
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Part 2 of 3: Planting trees

1. 

   Dig a hole and plant the tree. Use a garden shovel to dig a hole deep enough to place the roots and the bottom of the stump. Lift the plant from its pot and release the roots. If the roots are bundled (the roots are tightly entwined), you will have to prune some of the roots. Dig a hole a few centimeters wider than the root ball and place the plant upright in the hole so that the top of the root system is slightly above the ground. Spread soil in the hole around the roots of the plant. Use your fingertips to gently pat the soil.
   • Wet the plant before planting. Dip the root ball in a bucket of water, or use water to wet it before planting the plant in the ground.
   • If you have more than one azalea plant, be sure to keep the space between the planting holes more than 1 meter apart.

2. 

   Water the tree. Water the plants slowly and carefully. Water the plants again the next day after planting. Azaleas need to be watered at least once a week, unless you are planting in direct sunlight, when you will need to water more often. Take care not to let the plant dry out, otherwise it will wither.

3. 

   Cover the azaleas thoroughly. Use pine bark, pine needles, sawdust or shavings to cover the dirt between the bushes. The mulch will maintain a constant humidity and temperature in the soil, while also helping to prevent weeds. The right time to reapply the mulch is after the flowers are gone.

4. 

   Fertilize the azalea only when needed. B You do not need to fertilize if the soil is fertile and acidic enough. Rhododendrons generally do quite well without the need for additional nutrients. In fact, over-fertilizing is more harmful than not fertilizing, as the plant's shallow roots can be damaged by the fertilizer. If you really need to fertilize, do it in the spring, right after the plant is blooming. Use an acid-forming fertilizer like cottonseed cornstarch, or choose a specific fertilizer for azaleas.
   • Improper fertilization can also cause azaleas to bloom at the wrong time, so be sure to fertilize only if necessary.
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Part 3 of 3: Pruning the tree

1. 

   Prune dead branches in the spring. Pruning early will help the plant put energy into new shoots. Examine the tree for dead branches and pruning parts. Use shears to prune and remove dead branches.
   • Don't over trim early in the season. Each healthy branch cut off is a branch that can produce beautiful flowers in spring. If you want to completely change the shape of your azalea, wait until summer.

2. 

   Prune a little after the flowers are gone. Now is the time to re-shape the azalea if you want. Cut out long branches and loose shoots from the main branches to retain the natural shape of the azalea. Trim parts that are too thick to allow air circulation and improve the silhouette of the bush. Be sure to prune carefully - like it or not, don't use hedge clippers to trim the azalea bush.
   • Don't prune too late. Prune no later than 3 weeks after the end of flowering - otherwise, you will cut off any buds that can flower next year.

3. 

   Prune as much if necessary. If your azalea is overgrown and pruned, you can safely prune it within 30 cm of the ground, and it will return to its fullness and beauty. Do this after the blossoming in the dead spring to give the plant time to recover before moving on to the next stage of growth. advertisement

Advice

• Prevent fungal infections by using an antifungal spray if you notice obvious damage to the petals (petals turn brown and pus), or if the leaves are spotted (small white fungal spores can turn brown).

Warning

• Try to maintain soil acidity with an ideal pH between 4.5 -5.5.
• Do not fertilize azaleas. This can cause the plant to bloom out of season.
• Remember that azaleas are poisonous. Not only can you be poisoned by eating any part of the plant, but the honey made by the bees that smoke azalea nectar can also cause poisoning!

What you need

• Planter potted or raised pot background
• Land
• Azaleas
• Country
• Cutting pliers
• Overlay