Planting Azaleas
Developing any garden, big or small, takes time, planning, and lots of patience.
Four years ago, I decided to create a giant azalea border along both sides of the carriage road between my Summer House and my stable. I wanted to plant lots of colorful azaleas - a variety of unique specimens in shades of pink, orange, crimson, and white. I already have many mature azaleas flourishing in this area, but I wanted to expand the collection. That first year I started with about 200 plants on each side. Hundreds more have been added since. I watch how the plants grow, assess which varieties do best, and every spring I add a few more wherever they're needed. I am looking forward to seeing this garden bloom.
Enjoy these photos.
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- This time of year, I often visit local nurseries to select new plants for the gardens. I pay close attention to what gardens need filling and do it a little at a time. It’s important to also understand the growth cycles of each plant in order to predict how long it will take a garden to flourish. This collection of new plants includes some azaleas for my border.
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- My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, places the azaleas strategically -keeping like colors together and with the plant’s mature size in mind. When buying azaleas, always select plants that are sturdy, well-branched, and free of insect damage or diseases. And, avoid plants with weak, spindling growth and poor root systems. Azaleas are generally healthy, easy to grow plants. Some azaleas bloom as early as March, but most bloom in April and May with blossoms lasting several weeks.
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- If the planting area has already been mulched for the season, carefully move the mulch out of the way first, so it is not mixed with the planting soil. It will be easy to move the mulch back around the plant later, so it looks neat and tidy.
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- Matt starts by digging the hole at least twice the size of the plant. Azaleas thrive in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
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- Then he removes the plant from its pot and scarifies. Scarifying stimulates root growth. Essentially, one makes small cuts along the root ball to loosen the roots and create some beneficial injuries. This helps the plant become established more quickly in its new environment.
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- Matt also scarifies the bottom.
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- My gardeners love using the Japanese hori hori knife. It’s durable, comfortable, and very versatile. It has a serrated edge on one side and a sharpened edge on the other. Aside from cutting, it can also be used for troweling and digging out weeds.
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- Next, Matt sprinkles a generous handful of good, water-soluble fertilizer to the existing soil.
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- And then mixes it thoroughly.
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- I use Miracle-Gro Organic All Purpose Plant Food. It’s full of essential nutrients and won’t burn the plants.
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- The plant is placed into the hole and then checked to be sure it is at the right depth. Planting too deep could eventually cause bark deterioration at the soil line and kill the plant.
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- The azalea is backfilled and the soil is lightly tamped for good contact with the root ball. Azaleas have short root systems, so they can easily be transplanted in early spring or early fall.
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- Matt also returns the beautiful mulch that had been recently spread around the area. Among these new azalea plants are ‘Girard’s Kathy,’ ‘Blaauw’s Pink,’ and ‘Firestar.’ Azaleas prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light. These plants will fit in so nicely with the others.
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- On the other side of the carriage road, Alex drops another wheelbarrow of mulch. Unloading mulch in manageable amounts makes it easier to spread.
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- Here is one section where the crew is working. I am very proud to be able to make this mulch right here at the farm.
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- Chhiring carefully spreads a two to three inch layer of mulch around all the plants. I removed all the surrounding grass, so there would be less to mow and maintain.
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- These azaleas do so well here. Some azaleas, including native types, can reach towering heights of 20 feet or more. Dwarf azaleas grow two to three feet tall, and many garden azaleas stay four to six feet in height with as wide a spread. Read the labels, so they can be placed appropriately in the garden.
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- It’s also important to keep azaleas where they can be protected from midday and winter sun to prevent leaves from drying out and burning.
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- Azaleas are native to several continents including Asia, Europe, and North America. These plants can live for many years, and they continue to grow their entire lives.
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- I am excited to see both sides of this carriage road burst with colorful azaleas in another four or five weeks.
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