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Grow Azalea 

   

Azaleas can be either deciduous or evergreen and the two are really very different.  Evergreen (Indica and Kurume) Azalea hail from Japan and tend to be the smaller plants with some dwarf varieties, many have a smaller leaf and large single or double flowers.  Whereas Deciduous (Mollis) Azalea coming from Asia, Europe and North America are generally taller, growing to 1-3 meters tall and some varieties have often strongly scented flowers. Foliage on Deciduous Azalea changes to shades of orange and red before leaf fall, and new foliage emerging has an attractive bronze undertone before turning green.  

Azaleas produce one flower per stem, but with many stems the whole shrub produces an abundance of vibrant flowers from late winter through to spring.  Flowers on the shrubs are long lasting – the colourful range includes shades of orange, purple reds, pinks, whites, yellow, plus there are multi-coloured hybrids.   

Versatile Azalea can be mass planted, add variety to a shrub garden, grown under the canopy of deciduous trees, used to create a low hedge and developed as Bonsai.  

Situation – Plant in part sun, part shade in a sheltered position; in cooler regions they will tolerate full sun. Azaleas grow well in containers on a deck or balcony. 

Soil – Well drained, organic rich acid soil – improve the acid level with the addition of Peat Moss, Coffee Grounds and Leaf mulch.  A layer of organic matter around the plant can help stop the plant drying out. 

Water – Deep watering direct into the soil during warmer weather – do not let plants dry out completely.

Feeding – After flowering, fertilise around drip line so you don’t burn the shallow fibrous roots.   Use slow-release Azalea fertiliser or lightly dig in well-rotted compost and/or animal manure around the drip line. A sprinkling Epsom Salts is useful to correct soil magnesium deficiency and helps your Azaleas develop healthier greener leaves.

Pruning – Cut back after flowering to maintain a nice shape and desired size.   Remove old wood, straggly branches and spent flowers from Deciduous Azaleas and Evergreen Azalea being naturally compact, require only minimal clipping to remove dead or broken branches and to improve shape.   Azalea are easily shaped into topiary balls, cones and other shapes.

Whist mostly problem free, Azalea can get Thrips and Aphids, these can be easily controlled by spraying with an insecticide – Mavrik or Neem Oil, for example.