growing azaleas?

Question

I have planted a few azaleas and they seem to be going ok but would like to know how to look after them. What do i feed them with and how often, do i prune them and when. Any advise would be greatfully recieved

Answer 1

my azaleas are well established, i prune them in the spring after the flowers die. They need an acidic soil so that they will bloom well. You could use miracid ( following the instructions on the box) or do what i do... i use fallen leaves as mulch... when leaves break down they are acidic. They are pretty low maintanence as far as shrubs go.

Answer 2

Azaleas like acidic soil, so you should fertilize them with something like "Holly-tone". There are several other brands also, and you can find it in most garden stores - even Home Depot or Walmart. I feed my azaleas twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. Be sure to follow the directions on the bag so that you don't over-fertilize.

Pruning does not need to be done unless you do not like their shape, or if they get too big. If you do need to prune your azaleas, you want to do it shortly after they bloom in the spring. If you prune in the fall, you will be cutting off next years' blooms. If you just planted the azaleas, I would guess that they would not need pruning for several years.

Good luck!