When to Transplant Azaleas
An azalea is a type of rhododendron shrub with slightly smaller flowers and an earlier blooming time than the rhododendron. Azaleas bloom in late spring or early summer, and the blooms often cover the entire plant. In fall, the leaves of some types of azaleas change color and drop off. Azaleas prefer slightly acidic, well-drained soil and a sunny location. Transplanting an established azalea is relatively easy because of the shallow root systems. Does this Spark an idea?
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Transplanting Azaleas
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In general, it is best to transplant azaleas on a cool fall day. If fall weather is very warm in your area, transplant either in the early morning or late afternoon. As winter approaches, the plant begins to slow down its growth and reproduction processes so it will be better able to take the stress of the move. Fall's frequent rains keep the soil moist, which helps the roots repair themselves from any damage that happened while moving it. Spring transplanting in hot weather can cause blooms to wilt and drop off, and the stress of the transplant during spring's active growth period may slow the plant's development.
Decide where you want to put your azalea before digging it up. Make sure to place your azalea in a spot that is sunny both in summer and winter. Avoid planting azaleas under trees, as the partial shade may be too cool for them. Azaleas need very well-drained soil and sitting in water can cause their roots to rot. They also prefer a slightly acidic environment, so if your soil or water is very alkaline, mix in some peat or leaf mulch. Azaleas do not require much fertilizer, so there is no need to fertilize either the shrub or the transplant site.
Don't water the azalea right before transplanting because this makes the plant's root ball very heavy to carry. Dig around the azalea's trunk, leaving a space of 12 to 18 inches. Work around the circle by pushing the shovel in deeper and gently prying the root mass up. Using your hands, scoop around the underside of the root ball to remove the soil and loosen the more fibrous roots. Lift up the azalea by the root ball to avoid breaking the trunk, and carry it to the new site. Place the azalea in a hole that is slightly wider than the root ball and fill it in. Water it thoroughly and make sure all of the roots stay covered with soil.
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Okay, my research on transplanting azaleas -- seems like the pruning may be the largest part of this project. As the Azaleas we snagged are large and overgrown -- Day one -- PRUNE? Dig smaller bushes? Day two go for the larger Azaleas?
