Yard and Garden Online

Azaleas are a perfect plant for a Southern Yard . Azaleas provide beautiful spring color and are ideally suited for a pine forest environment. Azaleas love the filtered light of the tall pines and they do well in the slightly acidic soil brought about by the falling pine needles.

Pruning Azaleas:

In most situations, Azaleas need yearly pruning and will benefit from it. The one key factor to consider about pruning your azaleas is timing. You should prune within the first 2 to 3 weeks after the plants finish flowering in the spring. After that point, the shrub will begin developing the buds that will bloom the following spring. Any pruning that takes place once the new buds have started to develop will have a negative impact on the display you will have in the spring. That does not mean you should not do minor shaping of your plants throughout the growing season. It does mean you should be very selective with your cuts and be aware that every cut will impact the flowers for the following season.

Planting Conditions:

Azaleas need good drainage. While they like moist soil at their roots, they do not like waterlogged soil. An easy way to be sure of proper drainage is to plant Azaleas with the top of the root balls a few inches above ground level. Soil can be mounded around the root ball. With the heavy clay soil often found in our neighborhood, getting proper drainage is especially important.

Water:

Like most plants, Azaleas do better when they have adequate water. While the amount of moisture can vary depending on variety, soil and sunlight, you will usually see a drooping of the leaves in plants that are stressed from a lack of water. The best approach is to water azaleas deeply and infrequently rather than applying water often and in small amounts. Young plants with smaller root structures are more likely to need additional water.

Fertilizer:

Once azaleas are established, they do not need fertilizer. In fact, fertilizer applied late in the growing season can cause tender new growth to develop which can be killed in a winter freeze. If you do decide to apply fertilizer, apply it after the last chance of severe frost and before the end of June.

Fungal Control:

If you notice small discolored dots on the petals of the flowers, you should apply a fungicide spray to the flower buds just as they are showing color. This will will control the fungal blight and will keep the flowers from collapsing.

Mulch:

Azaleas will do better with a couple of inches of mulch around the roots. This will keep the moisture from evaporating in the warmer weather and will protect the roots from freezes in the winter.