GREENGOLD GARDEN CONCEPTS
CARE AND MAINTENANCE NOTES

AZALEAS

They bloom magnificently in winter and spring, and many varieties spot flower at other times of the year. They are available in a large range of colors, in singles or doubles, and range in size from very dwarf to tall.

Azaleas are part of the rhododendron heavily; an ancient family dating back many of years, and are indigenous to the northern hemisphere. There are several types of azaleas.

The two most commonly sold are Indicas and Kurumes.

Varieties

Indicas These originate from China, are evergreen and are the largest and most popular varieties. They generally have larger leaves and flowers than kurumes.

Kurumes These come from Japan, are also evergreen, and are smaller plants then  the indicas. Foliage and flowers are smaller and the plants usually have a more compact at look. Flowers can be double or single.

Sun Hardy azaleas These are mostly selected varieties of indicas that have been tried and tested for sun tolerance. Labeling will indicate if these are sun tolerant. Usually tall growing with single flowers.

Gumpo These are very low growing compact azaleas. They tend to bloom well after the main azaleas season is over. Useful for edging a garden bed.

MOLLIS A deciduous family of Azaleas. Generally suited to colder climates, these have clusters of clear rich flowers at the end of erect stems. They are available in orange/yellow/pink/ and red shades.

PLANTING   Azaleas grow and flower best in a semi shade position. They will not bloom at all well if planted in total shade. Morning sun is best. As mentioned, several varieties will grow in full sun. Soil should be well composted. We recommend digging in a bucketful of GREENGOLD PLANTING COMPOST per plant. Make sure that the position is well drained. Do not plant deeper than the soil level of the previous container. A pH of 4.5 to 5.8 is ideal. Azaleas do not like lime, so do not plant them near recent cement work as the lime leaching out could cause a problem. If you are concerned about the pH of your soil, bring a sample into your nearest GREENGOLD GARDEN CENTRE and it will be analyzed for you.

CARE PROGRAM

1. When Azaleas have finished flowering in late Spring, prune them if necessary. The "old fashioned" single flowering Indicas can be taken back very low. Don't be frightened to hack them back !

2. After pruning, feed the Azaleas. Use a suitable slow release fertilizer or a complete plant food such as GREENGOLD AZALEA AND CAMELLIA PLANT FOOD.

3. Make sure that with the onset of warm weather you mulch around the plants. Azaleas are shallow rooted and can dry out quickly. A drip watering system is ideal for them as it saves water, really soaks the ground and assists in the prevention of petal blight during flowering. The mulch helps retain the moisture.

4. As the new seasons growth appears, keep a close check on the foliage - both sides - looking for telltale signs of insect damage. Damaged leaves take on a silvery appearance and often there are little brown spots on the underside. With a magnifying glass it is possible to see the two spotted mites and the little lace fly. Two Spotted Mite, Thrips and Azalea Lace Wing are the main problems. Either bring some leaf samples in for us to check and advise, (leaves in a bag please!), or start a spray program. Spraying for these problems must be done regularly, from mid Spring right through until mid to late Autumn.

5. Yates Mavrik is a chewing and sucking insect spray that is of low toxicity. You will have to spray fortnightly on both sides of the foliage. Should this prove to be insufficient, then change to a stronger spray, such as Confidor, Rogor, Folimat or Lebaycid. Take care at all times when spraying. Pest Oil is non toxic and is registered for the control of two spotted mite.

6. Liquid feed your Azaleas regularly through the warm months to supplement your initial Spring feed. Liquid fertilizer should be poured or sprayed over the entire plant for both foliage or root feeding.

7. Remember to water - particularly in Winter. It can often be very dry in Winter, and being shallow rooted, the plants must not be allowed to dry out. Do not water over the blooms.

8. Cease feeding in mid Autumn. By now the Azaleas will be slowing down their growth, and thinking about budding up for the next seasons flowering.

9. At budswell - (nice fat flower buds), you may wish to start a spray program for Petal Blight. This is a fungal disease that affects the flowers. They appear to go all slimy and brown. This often occurs if the season is wet, if there is high humidity or you are watering the flowers not just the root zone. Apart from picking off all infected flowers, there is no real alternative but to spray with Bayleton (over the plant and the ground). This should be done every ten days throughout the flowering time.

10. Finally - DO NOT FEED in late Autumn or Winter. Wait until after flowering for the first main feed; and then give another feed with GREENGOLD AZALEA AND CAMELLIA FOOD in the late Summer/early Autumn.

USES    Azaleas make ideal container plants. Select a good size terracotta pot, and use DEBCO Terracotta and Tub Potting Mix. Azaleas can even be bought indoors for a few days when they are at their flowering peak. The taller varieties can make quite an effective screen, they can even be hedged - taking care to prune at the correct time to allow enough time for the flower buds to set. They can be planted as mass displays or as specimen plants; and as mentioned the dwarf Gumpos can be used as border plants.

Naturally if there are any questions or problems concerning the care and maintenance of your Azaleas, please don't hesitate to call in at your nearest GREENGOLD GARDEN CENTRE for advice.