| The
Plant:
|
Like
any other plant, Standard Azaleas require proper planting,
watering and care to thrive in their new home. Here are a few simple
guidelines to help your new plants grow to their fullest potential.
|
| Sun
Exposure:
|
Azaleas perform best in sun to light, filtered shade.
Care
must be taken to prevent exposure to drought or other heat related
stress conditions associated with full sun exposure. Mulch well
around the base of the plant to cover roots, hold in moisture, and
protect root ball from sun.
|
|
Preparation:
|
Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and
fill it with water. If the hole drains within a few hours, you have good
drainage. If the water is still standing 12 hours later, improve the
drainage in your bed. You may have to take corrective action, perhaps by
establishing a raised bed. A soil sample is always a good idea. Azaleas
are acid-loving plants, so optimum PH levels in the soil should be
between 5.5 and 6.5.
|
| Planting:
|
Turn the soil well and dig a
hole twice as wide as it is deep. Mix some organic compost or peat moss
with the soil. (This is especially important if you have sandy or heavy
clay soil.) Remove your Azalea from its container and carefully
but firmly loosen the root ball. Set the plant into the hole you’ve
prepared, making sure the top of the root ball is above the soil level.
Pull your soil around the plant, water thoroughly and cover with mulch.
|
| Spring
& Summer
|
Water your Azalea well
when you first plant it, and keep the soil moist until winter. New
azaleas will die quickly if the soil dries excessively. Your new Azalea should not need regular watering after the first year unless
there are periods of excessive drought. Fertilize with the recommended
levels of azalea feed soon after planting. Do not fertilize after
August. This fertilizing schedule is highly recommended for areas with
sandy soils.
|
| Fall
& Winter
|
Azaleas do well when
they are planted at this time. New roots produced in the fall will help
the azalea flourish in the next growing season. Although less watering
is necessary, do not allow the roots to become dry. Cover your young
azalea with insulating covering when extreme cold weather approaches. As
your Azalea matures, it will need less winter care. Do not
fertilize until after the last frost. When you do fertilize, use azalea
feed as directed. This fertilizing schedule is highly recommended in
areas with sandy soils.
|
| Pruning:
|
There
are two approaches for Azalea pruning. One is to let it run wild
and do no pruning at all. This will produce a large plant with
many blooms in the spring. If you want a neater plant try a pillow
cut. After the Azalea has finished its bloom, lightly shear it all
over. Most people will do this in the shape of a rounded
dome. This shearing will cause new grow all over the plant where
new buds will form the following spring. The next time it blooms
you should have a nicely shaped plant that is almost 100% covered in
blooms.
|
| Spacing:
|
Azaleas should be
planted the same width apart as the mature dimensions specify. This
measurement should be taken from the center of one plant to the center
of the other. For example: Sunglows mature dimensions are 6 feet
wide. In order to have mature Sunglow Azaleas bunched next
to each other, you should plant them 6 feet apart, starting at the
center of one plant and measuring to the center of the other. If you
would like space between your azaleas, you should separate them by more
than the mature width dimensions.
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