Azaleas add welcome color to the spring garden and some, like Encore®, Perfecto Mundo® and ReBLOOM™ offer additional blooms in summer and fall. With beautiful flowers in an array of colors and sizes and a variety of growth habits it’s no wonder the National Garden Bureau has declared 2026 the Year of the Azalea.
The keys to success are selecting azaleas adapted to the climate, placing them in a suitable location and of course, providing proper care. Azaleas need slightly acidic soil with good drainage and prefer light to moderate shade. If shade is limited, consider growing Encore® Azaleas, Sweet Reward® Coral azaleas or one of the more sun-tolerant varieties.
Once the perfect location is identified with adequate space for the plant’s mature size, it’s time to prepare the soil. Start with a soil test and follow any recommendations for amending the pH as needed. Incorporate compost or other organic matter into the planting bed, not just the planting hole, to improve drainage and moisture retention of the existing soil.
Dig a hole that’s the same depth as the root ball and two to four times wider with sloping sides. This loosens the surrounding soil as needed, allowing roots to extend beyond the planting hole. Do not dig a deeper hole as this leads to settling and the plant will end up in a low spot where water collects and can lead to root rot. If amending the soil, firm the bottom of the hole to prevent settling.
Loosen any circling pot-bound roots prior to planting or shave off the outer 1” of roots then gently tease out the roots along the edge. This encourages the roots to grow out and away from the root ball. When circling roots remain intact, they continue to grow around the original root ball, limiting moisture and nutrient uptake, plant stability and eventually end up girdling the stem.
Make sure the crown of the plant, where the stems meet the topmost roots, is at or slightly above the soil surface. Create a raised planting area if gardening in heavy, slow-draining soil.
Water thoroughly, moistening the top eight to twelve inches of soil. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet which can lead to root rot. Mulch the soil with leaves, evergreen needles or woodchips. Pull the mulch a few inches away from the stems. Organic mulch helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as it decomposes.
Wait a year to fertilize and follow soil test recommendations. Most azaleas only need one fertilization in spring while repeat bloomers may benefit from a second application mid-summer. Do not fertilize after the start of August as this can promote late season growth that is more susceptible to winter damage. Use slow-release fertilizer according to label directions. Avoid overfertilization that can prevent flowering and promote lush growth, which is more susceptible to insect damage.
Those gardening in zones five to seven and interested in adding native plants may want to add a Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) to their landscape. This azalea is native to the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia and grows four to eight feet or more tall and eight to ten feet wide.
Look for opportunities to add an azalea or two to the landscape. Prepare the site and get busy planting this spring or fall.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
