Things You'll Need:
- Soil test kit
- Organic matter (peat moss, humus, rotted manure)
- Mulch (pine needles, pine bark, leaves)
- Epsom salts
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Step 1
Plant azalea bushes in an area that is partially shaded and that does not receive the direct light of the midday sun (northern exposure). According to The Nursery at Ty Ty, azaleas do very well in areas under the filtered light of pine trees.
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Step 2
Plant azalea bushes in low-lying areas or an area protected by a building, wall or hedgerow. This added protection from wind and cold helps azaleas to thrive.
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Step 3
Plant azaleas in soil that is equal parts soil and organic material such as peat moss, humus (decomposed organic matter) and rotted manure.
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Step 4
Use a soil test kit to monitor the pH level of the soil. Azaleas thrive in acidic soil (4.5 to 5.5 pH level). Adequate moisture and organic mulching help maintain proper pH levels.
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Step 5
Water your azalea bushes. Azaleas grow best in moist soil, so they must be watered year-round (either by you or by rainfall), especially during extended dry spells.
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Step 6
Surround your azaleas with organic mulch: pine needles, pine bark and leaves are good choices. Leave approximately 1/2 to 1-inch around each stem without any mulch.
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Step 7
Detect problems early. Dull, dark green leaves tinged with red indicate a phosphorus deficiency. Add more rotted manure and humus to your soil to increase phosphorus levels. Yellowing leaves indicate a need for iron or magnesium and can be corrected by spraying azaleas with a light Epsom salt solution.
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Step 8
Prune young plants in the early spring before they flower. Pruning after flowering will damage next year's blooms, resulting in very little flowering the following summer.
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Step 9
Leave established azalea plants alone. As tempting as it may be to shape them, pruning established azaleas will destroy blooms, and it may be two to three years before they flower again.
