Question about Azalea's.?

Question

I have just received 2 Azalea plants as a gift and would like to know the best place to plant them. The front of my home faces the east.

Answer 1

As long as the front of your house gets alot of sunlight they should be fine. Azaleas love sunlight. Azaleas also prefer an acidic soil and need to have good drainage. Therefore you must loosen the soil that it will be planted in about six to eight inches down. When creating the hole that it will be planted in, be sure to give it just enough room so that the root ball will be even or just above the earth. If planting more than one bush, be sure to space them with a few feet between to give the roots ample room to spread. Azaleas prefer to be fertilized after they've had a chance to establish their roots. When the plant has successfully been put in the ground, water it thoroughly; about five to ten minutes with a garden hose, but do not fertilize. When it's been in the ground for a week or two and it's obvious that it's taking root and flourishing well, then fertilize and water regularly. When there's very little precipitation outside, water with a garden hose daily for five to ten minutes.

Answer 2

Are these evergreen florist grown azaleas? If they are they may not be cold hardy. If you live in a frost free zone they will be fine but if you get below 32F & they are not cold hardy they will die. Try to find out the varieties name from the florist then search it on line or check with the library for a reference book.
If it is not cold hardy it can be planted out side in its pot. Place it with the rim even with the soil. If the pot is plastic care must be taken to water it inside the pot or trade the plastic with a clay. Fertilize it lightly every month or so through the fall, with a fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosporus to promote root and bud growth without promoting plant and leaf growth like 4-6-2.
Bring it back in the house for winter into a very cool part of the house.

If it is cold hardy and you live in zone 6 or warmer it should do well. Afternoon light shade is best but some varieties do like full sun. Sun encourages compact shapes but the bloom time is drastically shortened.
A pH of 5.5 - 6 is optimal. Plantings with pine, oak or holly are usually is the acid range of azalea.
Azaleas as best mulched because they are woodland plants. They do not handle drought conditions, neither do they tolerate standing water. They need rich well drained soil.
If these are nursery bought garden ready plants they will have name/culture tags with them. Do a search on the cultivars to find out in specific what your plants require. Evergreen and deciduous azaleas vary in their cultural needs. Deciduous azaleas are more cold hardy, often are astoundingly fragrant, & they get much taller.
If you find these are not cold hardy but wish to grow evergreens look into lepidotes--small-leaved rhododendrons very similar to the evergreen azaleas in appearance. This sit is a Rhododendron specialty so covers care and species.
http://www.rhodyman.net/rhodysp.html#anchorLandE

Answer 3

East is OK, North is better. Don't put them in a West or South exposure. Azaleas like to be shaded, especially during the hot part of the day. I have several with a Northeast exposure that do very well.

Answer 4

plant them in the front of your house. they like a slightly acid soil ,and mulch them with pine needles. this will add acid to the soil and keep the weeds down.