Fertilizing & Trimming Azaleas
All of us love azaleas in full bloom, but if you trim or fertilize at the wrong time of year you can end up with a green plant and no blooms. Learn how to avoid this problem along with how to protect your plants against lace bugs and other damaging pests at the same time……
When To Fertilize and Trim: All trimming and fertilizing of azaleas needs to be done no later than mid-June – with the best time to trim being within 3 weeks after they bloom. You still have time…..but do it quickly! Pruning the bushes later than that risks the development of next year’s buds since they begin to form their buds in the summer months.
Proper pruning should be done with hand pruners. Reach into the plant and cut back branches to slightly different lengths to create a natural shaped plant. Use of hedge trimmers to shear azaleas into tight boxes or shapes will result in foliage and flowers that exist only on the outer edge of the shrubs. Prune back long, gangly limbs and your shrub will be more attractive and compact in shape.
Fertilize with a fertilizer specifically formulated for azaleas after they finish blooming. Fertilome® offers an Azalea/Evergreen Food Plus with Systemic that not only fertilizes but protects your plants from insects. When insecticide is applied systemically it is absorbed through the roots and travels throughout the entire plant. Since it works from within the plant no rain or water will wash off the protection; therefore it lasts longer than sprays. Other systemic products and slow release fertilizers should be applied throughout the rest of the year to continue to protect and feed your azaleas.
If you prefer Organic, Espoma® Azalea-Tone is a blend of natural and organic ingredients that promotes deeper roots, faster growth and bigger blooms. They suggest fertilizing in Spring and Fall.
Trimming Encore® Azaleas: Trim them when necessary like standard azaleas after bloom cycles to prevent trimming flower buds that are forming.
Other Azalea Tips:
Do not fertilize them in early spring before they bloom since it will promote early leaf growth which could cover up some of the flowers.
Azaleas do not grow well in wet, heavy soil, they prefer well drained soil. Their roots are very fine and are easily damaged by waterlogging, even for short periods of time. If you aren’t sure if the area drains well enough try this: Dig the hole where you want to plant the azalea and fill it with water. If after an hour the water is still standing in the hole the area does not drain well enough for an azalea to be planted in a normal manner.
To improve drainage you can add soil and raise the level of the planting area thus allowing the plant to drain properly. You can also leave 2” of the root ball out of the planting hole – this is called “planting high” – and this will allow the plant to have some of its roots out of poor draining soil.
Azaleas are well adapted to partial shade but when grown in deep shade they will be spindly and have few flowers.