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Where To Plant Azaleas

By Adam Howe

There are some simple "rules of the road" you need to keep in mind when you grow azaleas. They will need a specific type of soil prepared for them and it can be difficult to grow these plants if the conditions are not right. Under some circumstances, some gardeners may fail at getting the results they hope for, however, with a little time and effort, and if these plants are grown in the right environment, they will yield good results in the form of a cascade of blooms every year.

Some factors that you will need to be mindful of when planting azaleas include the acidity of the soil, drainage, watering and amount of sunlight.

Although requiring a more acidic soil, overdoing it may lead to "root burn", so this is something you need to be aware of when planting the bushes in your yard. A good camellia and azalea fertilizer should normalize the soil, however it might be worth having the soil tested if you are concerned if it is going to be overly acidic.

These plants will add something to your garden all year round. In the season of spring, they will bloom into something very beautiful. The flowers that bloom during this time are very exotic in nature and will suddenly come into bloom, creating a real visual delight. In fact it can appear that the shrub is basically one huge bunch of flowers sitting in your garden with the flowers bursting out at the tip of the branches. During the rest of the year, the shrubs provide lush greenery in spots in your garden which can be difficult to fill otherwise.

These flowers are lovely scattered around your garden, as they have some unique characteristics in this Genus of plant. Being very hardy once they are established and in the right spot, no harm will come to these plants through any insects and any other factor. The only reason they would fail to survive is because of lack of good conditions such as the plants location or poor nutrition.

On the whole, however, there are very simple requirements to grow this plant.

That said, to get them to grow and flourish, you do need to ensure that you follow some strict rules to promote the growth and establishment of these plants. Apart from the soil needing to be more acid in nature, there needs to be a lot of moisture as well, to ensure the "pampering" they require in preparation for producing the huge display of blooms that they do produce. Paradoxically, there will have to be a good drainage too!

One of the great benefits of Azaleas is their ability to grow well and bloom strongly in the shade, and in fact they are one of the shrubs preferred by many gardeners specifically for this ability. Shady gardens can be a be challenge, especially if you are looking for plants that will flower in the bursts of color that is more typical of a sunny position. In fact azalea plants cannot be kept in strong sunlight as the blooms and leaves become easily burnt. They will need only filtered sunlight, which will provide more than enough to bring on the display we know and love so well.

All in all, azaleas are a great low maintenance choice for a well watered slightly acidic and shady part of your garden, where they will be able to provide you with blooms for years to come.

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Copyright by Adam Howe

Adam Howe is a passionate home gardener and editor of the "Rainy River Field Naturalists" blog. The "Rainy River" blog focuses on organic low maintenance gardening and provides regular articles for any Garden Enthusiast.

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