Azaleas are beautiful, show stopping flowers with their large blooms and big, green leaves, a favorite of any gardener! What's great about these flowers is that sometimes even during the cold, winter months, their leaves will stay green! If you're looking to learn how to plant azaleas, you've come to the right place! We'll show you how to plant, grow, and care for them.
How to Plant Azaleas
Climate:
Azaleas prefer a not too hot or not too cold climate (just right!). Usually, they're best suited for USDA zones 5 through 8.
There are literally hundreds of different varieties of rhododendron flowers to suit your needs. So whether you're looking for bushier varieties, hedge varieties, or low-ground varieties, there really is a rhododendron flower for everyone.
Planting Azaleas:
- Plant in spring or early fall.
- Choose a spot that receives a few hours of sun per day. Not too shade, but not too sunny either – moderation is key here!
- Soil should be well draining, humus-rich, moist, and acidic with a pH of 4.5-6.
- Before planting, amend planting areas with compost or peat moss.
- Azaleas have very shallow root systems so they need moist soil and mulch from drying out.
- Purchase plants that are deep green (not yellowed), not wilted, and that are well watered.
- Space your plants about 2-6 feet apart. Dig a hole that's as deep as the root ball and about 2 times as wide.
- The top roots should be at the soil level or slightly below.
- Fill the hole half full with soil and then water as to settle the soil. Once the soil has settled, fill the rest of the hole up.
Care:
- Mulch the plants every spring with 2-5 inches of pine bark chips to protect the roots and keep moist.
- Fertilize sparingly and only when flower buds swell in early spring.
- Water the plants during the summer.
So now that you know how to plant azaleas, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to planting!
Happy Planting!
