HOW TO GROW AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS

Most gardens are not complete without a few Azaleas or Rhododendrons in the shady areas, either under a tree's canopy, or mixed with other shade or semi-shade loving ferns, camellias, clivia, and fuchsia plants. They are easy to grow, and provide beauty with their spring blossoms and handsome year-round foliage. Follow a few easy steps for success.

Azaleas and Rhododendrons prefer shade or morning sun, even the hardy sun loving varieties prefer some shade relief in the hot interior valleys. The location needs to have acidic, well draining soil, as they abhor wet feet. Humidity is important, especially in the fall when the flower buds are forming, so you may wish to spray the foliage on hot Santa Ana condition days.

PLANTING:

Because they are shallow rooted, we recommend you dig a pit about 14” deep and 18”-24” wide. Take the garden soil OUT and replace with 100% Nurseryman’s Choice Acid Planting Mix. The free draining soil mix is perfect for your plants. If your soil is very good, (remember, most Southern California soil is alkaline and therefore undesirable to azaleas) you may mix up to 25% soil with 75% Acid Mix. We recommend planting "1or 2 “ higher than the surrounding soil.

FERTILIZE:

Fertilize infrequently with either Liquid Gold or Nurseryman's Camellia-Azalea Food. We usually feed after the bloom in May and again in late summer. If the foliage becomes yellow with greenish veins, you may want to add some Chelated Iron Plus in the late spring or summer months.

PRUNING:

We recommend you trim your plants no more than once a year and after the spring bloom,. for shaping purposes only. If you prune after August you risk cutting off next season’s blossoms.

CLEAN-UP:

Keep the area directly under the plants free of leaf debris or soil. The stems are very susceptible to stem rot if moisture is built up continuously. The top roots should almost be exposed, but use care to avoid direct sun on the roots, as your plant will suffer heatstroke.

FAVORITES:

We recommend Phoenicia Lavender, Brilliant Red, White Grandeur, George Tabor (pink) and Red Ruffles, as they are the hardiest of all the Azaleas for this area.

WATERING:

Azaleas & Rhododendrons are susceptible to salt burn if shallow water frequently. It is better to water 2-3 times a week in warm weather and flood the area to push harmful salts below the root zone. You may not have to water at all in winter except for those warm windy type days. Spray off the foliage to build up humidity on warm days.

INSECTS:

Aphids may show up from time to time. We spray with Malathion or Safer's Insecticidal Soap.