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Rhododendrons & Azaleas	Rhododendrons / Azaleas
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Azaleas and rhododendrons are probably one of the most commonly asked for and planted landscape plants due in part to their attractive and diverse assortment of flower colors. These cherished plants are sought after by almost everyone and are always in demand, despite the fact that they are very demanding to certain growing requirements and are subject to a host of insects and diseases.

? Where to plant:

To grow healthy, happy rhododendrons or azaleas only three basic requirements are needed. There are others, but these three are the most critical to their survival.

· First and foremost, proper drainage is needed.

More rhododendrons die from poor drainage than for any other reason. Rhododendrons and azaleas both require an adequate supply of moisture and definitely dislike even short spells of drought or drought-like conditions. An abundance of moisture retentive soil is needed to keep their fine, fibrous and shallow root system cool and moist. Soils that retain too much water, however, can suffocate the roots ultimately leading to the death of the plant or predisposing it to attack from various insects and disease. The ideal soil for a rhododendron or azalea would be a good quality loam, one with just the right amount of humus to retain nutrients, enough grit to allow for good drainage and the proper percentage of clay to retain moisture. Soils of this type are said to have good texture. Soils that are predominately clay in texture tend to hold too much water and soils that are too gritty or sandy tends to drain too quickly and dry out too fast. Soils of these types lack sufficient amounts of organic matter, which is needed to retain moisture, nutrients and beneficial bacteria, essential for plant growth. ( see tips for the ideal rhododendron/ azalea soil).

· Second, the situation , or site, of the plant is also a critical.

Rhododendrons and azaleas do best when grown in a brightly filtered sunny situation and can only be successfully planted in full sun when soil conditions are ideal, that is, soils that provide an ample supply of moisture and still have excellent drainage. When these two criteria are present, azaleas and rhododendrons can do quite well in a full sun situation. Keep in mind though that windy sites can be quite detrimental to these plants, especially when grown in full sun, because the plant will tend to use much more water and more often. Mulching your plants can help considerably, but in the long run it is better to avoid windy situations. Very few azaleas and rhododendrons can grow in full shade and the ones that do are usually the native varieties that naturally grow there. Hybrids grown in full shade will grow, but will lack quantity and size of blooms and after all isn't that what we are growing these plants for. Full morning sun and afternoon shade is comparable to a brightly filtered sunny situation.

· The third requirement for growing these plant is proper pH.

The pH is not as critical as you might think, as long as it is in a range somewhere between 4.5-5.5. Actually anything below a 7.0 is acidic and anything above a 7.0 is alkaline. The majority of plants grown in home gardens can be successfully grown in a pH range of 6.0-6.5, but for azaleas and rhododendrons or any member of the Ericaceae family which also include heaths, heathers, blueberries, mt. laurel and pieris, the soil needs to be a bit more acidic in order for the macro and micro nutrients in the soil to become available to the plants. Anything out of this ideal range may cause the plant to show deficiency symptoms.

Now that you have chosen an adequate location, one void of excessive hot sun, constant or strong winds and a site with excellent to adequate drainage, and with good soil texture, the simple task of planting can now begin.

? Planting Tips

Dig a hole at least one time larger than the ball of the plant you are planting. The reason for this is to provide a good friable soil around the ball so the tender new roots can penetrate the surrounding ground much more easily.

Place the ball of the plant in the hole so that the top of the ball is slightly above the top of the hole. This slight rise will allow your mulch to cover the top of the ball. It is much better to plant high than to plant too deep, in fact on soils that drain poorly the actual ball can be set on the ground and soil placed around it for a raised bed effect. Often people feel that if they dig a big enough hole in a poor soil and add better soil, they can grow a good plant, however all they have created was a soup bowl for collecting water. Any rhododendron or azalea in sitting for prolonged periods in standing water will eventually die.

Any amendments such as peat moss, compost, leaf mold, manure, etc. should be well mixed with the soil taken from hole prior to backfilling. The addition of a high phosphorus fertilizer such as 0-20-0 can also be added at this time, this will aid in development a healthy root system. After your plant has become established, the use of a more complete fertilizer, but one preferably low in nitrogen can be used, such as a 5-10-5 or 5-10-10.

Backfill around the ball packing in as you fill. Do not backfill any higher than the original height of the ball. Create a dish around the plant so as to retain water and then mulch, but not so much as to bury the stem of the plant, that could can cause problems later.

Water thoroughly but gently, allowing the water to seep slowly into the newly planted area.

Note: If you are planting a balled and burlaped plant, the burlap only needs removed if it is a "no rot " type burlap. These are made from polypropylene and literally will never rot off. Always asked what kind of burlap is on your plant before you plant any plant.

If you are planting a container plant, check to see if the roots are root bound in the container, (the roots will be thick and matted at the bottom of the pot) the root ball should be loosened up by hand or cut slightly with a knife, at both the bottom and sides of the container. Keep in mind that the root system of a rhododendron is much more fine than those of most plants and a certain amount of care will be needed.

Continued Maintaining your plants: Rhododendrons and Azaleas

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Last modified: 03/21/2004 Copyright © 1998-2004 HortSource.com  All Rights Reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission.