A landscaping staple, the dependable, easy to care for, and hardy evergreen shrub the Azalea, is a common plant used to beautify spaces. They can be grown in the shade, making it an ideal plant for wooded lots that are common here in Western North Carolina. With enough care and attention, they can also be grown in a container of some kind making it suitable for the needs of homeowners and renters alike. Being naturally resistant to a variety of common pests makes it another great reason to have as part of your home’s landscaping plan.

Related to the wildly grown and easy to find Rhododendron shrubs gracing the mountain sides around Asheville, they come in a variety of colors ranging from the classic pink to fiery orange, encompassing just about every common flower color you can think of.

It’s hard to find an Azalea that doesn’t meet your needs, unless of course your lot is graced with full sun exposure which carries the posibility of leaf burn to this shade and dappled light loving plant. There are a couple different types of Azaleas, and they come in both evergreen and deciduous varieties. Deciduous varieties do better in full sun, whereas evergreen varieties do best in dappled light. Keep reading on for some tips on how to care for your azaleas.

1. Azaleas like well drained, acidic soil with a pH around 4.5-6. After planting, it’s a good idea to apply a mulch to protect the roots and help feed the plant as the mulch decomposes. We offer soil testing as part of our turf care program, so if you want to check the acidity of your soil, we can help you determine how to amend your soil if it’s more alkaline than acidic.

2. The best time to plant Azaleas are late spring and early fall, however fall is preferred because it’s the dormant season for them and gives the roots time to grow without the stress of summer heat or drought.

3. Once established, the care needed for Azaleas is watering them during dry periods and fertilizing them when they begin showing signs of nutritional deficiencies.

Common nutritional deficiencies in Azaleas are iron and nitrogen deficiencies.

Nitrogen deficiencies can present as foliage discoloration such as yellowing of leaves and less flowers blooming, or leaves that may be undersized. If left unfixed for a long period of time, red blotches or red edges on older leaves aren't uncommon to start noticing. (Note: too much nitrogen can cause an overgrowth of foliage and fewer flowers, as well as irregular or too little sunlight so if the leaves look healthy but there are no flowers, you could have too much nitrogen.) Iron deficiencies in azaleas present as yellow or white younger leaves and older leaves will be yellow with green veins.

If you suspect that you have a nutrient deficiency in your plant, we offer fertilization treatments as part of our turf care program to help you amend the soil and feed your plant what it needs to thrive. 

As part of our turf care programs, we offer soil testing and fertilization for your Azaleas and other landscape plants. With a program for every budget as well as the option to add “a la carte” services, we’ve got you covered to help your lawn whether you need hedge trimming, regular fertilization schedules, or guidance on soil type and testing. Check out our Turf Care programs by following the link here. For more information on how to grow and care for Azaleas, we reccommend you check out the Old Farmer's Alamac for additional tips here.