by Known for the beautiful flowers, vibrant bloom and lush foliage, azaleas stand out as one of the most beloved flowering shrubs. Thus, if you’ve been looking for a way to add some colors to your garden and thus make it look amazing, vibrant and inviting, you should definitely consider adding these plants to the mix. They come in whites, reds, pinks, purples, as well as potentially some other colors, meaning that you will absolutely be able to find something that will work for you.
The great thing about these plants is that they are actually quite easy to grow. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that they require no care at all, and that you shouldn’t take your time to learn how to care for them and make them thrive. Both as a novice and as an experienced gardener, you have to understand the needs that the azaleas will have, aiming at keeping them perfectly healthy, as well as beautifully-looking, for a long time. Go here to get some tips on how to care for these.
So, if you are now wondering what it takes for these plants to thrive, then that is exactly what you will learn if you keep on reading. Most likely, you want to do the learning before you even plant them, which is a good idea, because there are some things to consider before the planting process in order to make the shrubs and the flowers thrive and look amazing. Let me, therefore, start sharing those caring tips right away, hoping to help you understand what to do with your azaleas so as to be happy with their progress and growth.
Naturally, we have to start at the beginning. That is, we have to start with choosing the right spot at which we are going to be planting the azaleas, because some locations are certainly better than others. What you have to consider here is that too much direct sunlight isn’t good for these plants, as it can reduce the flowering, as well as scorch the leaves. Therefore, these beautiful plants will best grow in partial shade, meaning that you should choose a location that will provide them with enough sunlight, possibly in the morning, while also providing them with shade in the afternoon.
Getting the soil ready is also of utmost importance. Of course, you should consider the soil when choosing the location as well, because azaleas love well-drain and acidic soil. In any case, though, preparing it for the planting process is a must, and this will include mixing in organic matter into it, as well as improving the drainage and the overall soil structure. So, think about what you can do to achieve those goals.
Moving on, once the shrubs are planted, you’ll need to know what to do next, because leaving them be and hoping for the best is not the right idea. As every great Azalea Care Guide will tell you, proper watering is a must. And, even though these plants don’t require extensive care, or extensive watering for that matter, you still have to know what they need, so as to get things done right.
In spring and summer, these plants will require constant moisture, but you should be careful not to make the soil soggy, as that won’t be good for them, and the extensive moisture could also potentially lead to some pests infestations and similar problems. Watering once or twice a week, depending on how often the rain falls in your area, should be perfect enough, as long as you make sure that the water reaches the roots. When the fall comes, you should immediately reduce the watering, as overwatering in this period can result in rotting roots and similar problems. The plants will be getting ready for dormancy in the fall, and then in the winter, when they are in the dormant state, they will require minimal watering.
You know that fertilizing all plants is important. But, when it comes to azaleas, you need to know when to do it. Once again, overdoing it may cause to problems. So, what is it that you should keep in mind here?
Well, in short, you should remember to fertilize these at the right time. And, the time is early spring. That’s when new growth begins, so you need to support it by adding the necessary nutrients after, of course, testing the soil.
Here is a care guide that could also be helpful: https://www.marthastewart.com/azalea-plant-grow-and-care-guide-7510640
One last thing to know is this. Don’t forget to do the necessary pruning and deadheading. Pruning is often done in late spring or early summer, when blooming is finished. And, deadheading, which is the process of removing spent flowers, is also important as it will encourage more blooms.
