Pruning & Fertilizing

Azalea care doesn’t take alot of work — that’s why we love them! But, occasionally we need to give them some attention. Unfortunately, most azaleas die from that attention. Overfertilizing, severe pruning, and overwatering are the major causes of azalea death. Below you’ll find information on how to prune and fertilize your azaleas. Don’t kill ‘em with love!

Pruning Azaleas
The most often asked question on azalea care is how to prune them. It’s really not that difficult. Azaleas will grow from practically anywhere along the branch that you cut. If you run your fingers along a stem, you can actually feel the leaf buds (like small bumps) beneath the surface of the twig. You can expect new growth to appear at the closest leaf bud you trim your plant to. New growth will also appear at each leaf base.

Azaleas have a natural shape that rarely requires a severe pruning for good azalea care. To keep a bushy appearance on most plants, tip pinch new growth during spring. This will encourage lower sections of the plant to put forth new branches. Any uneven sprouts that appear above the rest of the plant foliage can just be clipped back.

All this should be done after spring bloom has finished. Any pruning before the blooming period may end up cutting off next spring’s flower buds.

Good azalea care for deciduous azaleas, however, requires pruning them during their dormant season while they are leafless. If you live in an area with very cold winters, wait until the danger of frost has passed. Just as with evergreen azaleas, tip pinch any branches that seem to stand above the general outline of the plant.

Heavy Pruning – Azalea Care for the “Lanky” Plant

Have an azalea that has become a spindly stick? You just know that it will look bad if you leave it that way. Tip-pinching isn’t enough. Your first step is to decide whether to prune it before or after flowering. Generally, I would wait until after flowering before pruning, but if your azalea needs a heavy pruning, consider doing it before the blooms swell. You will lose flowers this way, but you will concentrate more of the plant’s energies on actual growth. If reshaping the plant is your priority, prune before the blooms appear.

They’re very hardy, so you just need to remember a few pointers.

1. Wait until after the danger of frost is past.

2. Prune branches using sharp shears dipped in a water and bleach mixture to prevent disease transfer. (Simply putting a capful of bleach into a cup of water will do the trick.)

3. Make cuts at an angle. Generally, just following the plant outline will do, but for very lanky plants, prune some branches to inside the plant outline. This will encourage branching within the plant and create a bushy appearance.

 

Azalea Care – Fertilizing
Azaleas are “under story” plants: plants naturally found under trees in a woodland setting. They prefer soil that has a high acid content (4.5 to 6.0 PH). If you are unsure of your soil’s PH level, you might want to consider having your soil tested, or purchasing a kit that will let you test it yourself. The American Azalea Society recommends mixing organic matter into the soil at planting, and to apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch afterwards. The slow breakdown of the mulch will provide most the nutrients needed. Good mulches can include bark, pine needles, or wood chips. As always, the most natural methods of azalea care are the best.

 

Fertilizers – What do those numbers mean?

Plants need Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium for good growth. The percentages of these ingredients are listed as three numbers on most fertilizer labels. For example if a label shows “6-7-5″ on a box of fertilizer, it will contain 6 percent Nitrogen, 7 percent Phosphorus, and 5 percent Potassium. Nitrogen provides the protein to develop new leaves, allowing the plant to grow. The phosphorus component encourages root growth and helps the plant to develop flowers. The last ingredient, potassium, gives the plant resistance to disease.

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension service recommends that most home azalea growers will be successful with a synthetic fertilizer rating of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10. But organic fertilizer ratios will be lower. This is because the fertilizer ratios reflect nutrients that are immediately available to the plant. Since most organic fertilizers break down slowly – and release their nutrients as they break down – their overall numbers are lower. For instance, Dr. Earth’s organic fertilizer has a ratio of 4-5-4. Most good garden supply stores carry a variety of azalea care products.

 

Organic Versus Inorganic

Does it really make a difference which type of fertilizer to use? The health of your soil directly effects the overall health of your plant. Healthy soil has a great deal of organic material that provides food for microbial life. Their “feasting” on organic matter breaks it up to provide a slow release of nutrients for your plants. So, feed your microorganisms!

Organic fertilizers are made from aged manure, bone meal, and minerals commonly found in nature. Synthetic fertilizers use man-made chemicals to provide the raw materials plants need. They can actually damage your plants if you don’t apply them carefully. They also don’t help improve soil quality. Should you choose to use an inorganic fertilizer, follow the directions on the package exactly.

Inorganic fertilizers do, at times, have their place. Water soluble fertilizers can give your plants a boost in spring when you become the caretaker of a plant in need of immediate help. Because it dissolves in water, it can immediately be taken up by the roots and provides “fast food” energy for your plant. But just like fast food for people, it doesn’t promote long term health for your azalea.

To supply constant help to your azaleas, try to apply an organic fertilizer to improve your soil. It will provide you with years of beautiful blooms and healthy soil as an added plus!

 

When to Apply

Fertilizer is applied once or twice during the year. Generally, I fertilize after the blooms have faded in spring and in early fall. Azalea care is pretty basic, so fertilizing need not be a constant worry. Potted plants are given half the prescribed amount, but fertilize them slightly more often than those in the ground.