Azaleas are some of the most common plants in St. Tammany landscapes. These rhododendrons are used in our area for several good reasons. They readily adapt to our weather, they prefer our low acid soils and they are readily available in various sizes, shapes and colors at most of our local nurseries

To keep your azaleas at their peak performance, certain cultural practices are important. Follow these practices to get the best from your azaleas:

– Select a partial-sun to partial-shade location. This area can have four to six hours of direct sun daily. Avoid late afternoon sun, especially in the summer months.

– Choose a southern or eastern exposure over a northern or western one.

– Have the soil tested for the pH level. Don’t guess! We recommend a pH of 5.5.

– Plant azaleas in the fall, if possible, followed by winter, spring and summer. Most azaleas are planted in the spring because shoppers can see the various colors, but fall remains the best time.

– Plant so that the top of the root ball is level with or slightly higher than the soil of the bed. Prune roots if needed.

– Don’t crowd plants when planting. Crowded planting limits air circulation and can create conditions more favorable to disease development and azalea lace bug infestation. Know how much the plant will spread for the variety being planted and space them accordingly.

– Fertilize with a slow-release formulation in the spring after blooming is completed.

– Mulch with pine straw or similar material to a depth of 2 inches. Avoid placing mulch in piles around the lower stem of the plant.

– Manage irrigation properly. Azaleas need uniformity in soil moisture – not too dry, not too wet. Avoid overhead irrigation, when practical. Know your irrigation water quality. Poor water quality (high pH, high alkalinity, high sodium) creates problems for azaleas.

– Prune lightly after spring bloom. Pruning for spring-flowering azaleas should be completed by July 4. Complete pruning for multiseasonal-flowering azaleas within two to three weeks after any bloom cycle is completed.

This care will offer the best showing of your azaleas for the summer season and beyond.