The optimum spacing for them is 5 feet apart. Fall-planted azaleas are not in bloom so you do not know what the blossom actually looks like until next year. Choose a location where the plant receives afternoon shade, such as the east or north side of your home, to protect the shrub from the Texas sun. What started in 1960 with 60 homes now consists of two trails, 10 miles, more than 75 homes, and at least 100,000 visitors every year. Before you buy your plants, walk around and assess your garden. Adding plenty of leaf mold, peat moss, or bark can help create the ideal environment. Water azalea in planters whenever the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. Prune right after spring blooming, before they set their new growth and buds. Since drainage is critical and some sites are occasionally flooded by heavy spring rains, raise the beds about 15 inches above the existing grade. Use rainwater, if possible, as rainwater is less alkaline than tap water. Planting azaleas Azaleas prefer loose, moist, well-drained soil for their roots. Our local garden centers can guide you through their selections. For more details on growing azaleas, see this article. Encore azaleas, which bloom in the spring and then again--for an encore--in the fall, are more tolerant of alkaline soils and heat, making them a good choice for Texas. Spring is out and summer is in which means it's time to trim those East Texas Azaleas! Also, the bed should be at least 24″ wide, and it is even better for the bed to be 48″ wide. Choose azaleas with buds at the ends of the branches and healthy green leaves. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Overton says you need wait to until their finished blooming to prune them. Evergreen azalea groups include Kurume, Satsuki, Kaempferi, Glenn Dale hybrids, Back Acre hybrids, Robin Hill hybrids, August Kehr hybrids, Gable hybrids, Linwood hybrids -- usually grown by florists -- and Harris hybrids. Azaleas thrive in East Texas due to the plentiful shade, (normally) frequent rainfall, and sandy, well-drained, acid soils, all of which combine to provide the right ingredients for growing these spring-blooming beauties. Select a planting site that faces east or receives filtered shade. Can you stick your shovel-better yet, your fingers-into the soil easily? Deciduous azaleas get very tall-up to 12 feet-and can be 6-8 feet wide. Is there an area that gets at least six hours of sun (from the east or south) a day, or is it located under trees with high canopies? Here is how to make the most of fall planting. They were called Indian or Belgian Indian hybrids. The time for azaleas to put on their show is February through March. The best time to plant evergreen azaleas is in early spring. They will not grow for very long in heavy alkaline soil. Many evergreen azalea cultivars grown as florist's azaleas cannot stand freezing temperatures, making them hardy to USDA zones 8 through 10. Mulching. Azaleas ready for spring planting are usually in flower so you can see what the shrub will look like. The heavy clay, alkaline soils in northern Texas require some soil preparation to successfully cultivate azaleas, so some groundwork is necessary prior to planting. Download this Care Sheet. Barbara Stump is research associate for development of the SFA Mast Arboretum Garden and the project coordinator for the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, which sponsors two 2009 Nacogdoches Azalea Trail events-Azalea Symposium "Azaleas and More" (March 21) and Little Princess Tea Party (March 28). Azalea image by fabiomarc from Fotolia.com Azaleas are commonly planted outside during the spring and fall. Azaleas set buds in the summer for next year, so trim branches right after bloom is over, never in the fall. Soil Tips. Azaleas are in the rhododendron family Ericaceae. Growing Rhododendrons In Oklahoma and Texas Keith Johansson Arlington, Texas It was not until I bought a renovated 1928 two-story brick house in Tulsa, Okla., in 1985 that my passion for plants, especially rhododendrons, came to life. Can you water the area the first spring and summer? Water deeply at least once a week May through October that first year. A Texas Master Gardener, she's the author of The Texas Flower Garden, published by Gibbs-Smith in 1996. Azaleas blooms beautifully in white, lavender, bright pink, salmon, red and purple colors. Plant azaleas and rhododendrons with the top of the root ball slightly above soil level. If they are, make four equally spaced cuts 1/4 inch deep to encourage the roots to grow outward. I … She has an Associate of Arts from Rogue Community College with a certificate in computer information systems. Azalea roots grow in the top 4-6 inches of soil rich in organic matter-that is, pine straw, oak leaves, or compost that has broken down to make a crumbly mix of small particles, larger than sand. The best time to fertilize is right after spring bloom. Overhead watering with sprinklers works well, but to prevent fungal diseases do this in morning so that leaves dry by afternoon. Follow these guidlines and watch your Encore Azaleas thrive. Some can grow as tall as 6 or 8 feet, but more dwarf varieties stop at about 2 or 3 feet. G. G. Gerbing', or bright pink ‘Formosa' can take some sun and have big flowers on big (6' tall by 6' wide) shrubs. Start by tilling lightly into the existing soil, and then add equal parts of fine pine bark, Canadian sphagnum peat moss, and sharp sand. From Shamburger’s successful test garden to boxcar loads of azaleas shipped in from Georgia, Tyler’s beautification project has provided a unique identity to this East Texas city. Several varieties of azaleas are very tolerant of heat (such as the Aromi hybrids) and with more than 6,000 varieties available, there is one suited for nearly every Texas garden. Azaleas are commonly planted outside during the spring and fall. They can range in height from dwarf varieties of 18-24" in height up to the full size varieties that can grow up to 6-8' in height. Answer: The best time to plant azaleas and camellias is now, when they are in bloom. Pine needle straw is great, since it is slightly acidic, and compost is good, but avoid hardwood chips. These plants originate from Japan, China and Korea. Plant in 50% peat, 50% bark mulch or Vital Earth Azalea Soil. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - © 2002-2020 Gray Television, Inc. Nacogdoches Fire and Rescue responded to a fire inside a building on Pecan Street. Plant them in a sunny spot that gets a good amount of afternoon shade. But there are varieties such as Encore, that can bloom two or three other times throughout the year. Often called Japanese azaleas, evergreen azaleas arose after several centuries of interbreeding native species in Japan. are shrubby plants with showy flowers and a neat and tidy growing habit. The United States National Arboretum recommends planting azalea bushes in either early spring or early fall in soil with good drainage. Pruning. Watering. Often called Japanese azaleas, evergreen azaleas arose after several centuries of interbreeding native species in Japan. Here's how to grow them: Azaleas in the DFW area are easy to grow once you get the soil right. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. dig a hole that is deep enough to cover the root ball and the bottom of the plant Provide a steady source of nutrients, too. Once planted, gently tamp the soil and water thoroughly. Ensure a riot of flowers to enjoy next summer and put up your clippers after springtime. While it is geared to the organic gardener, the principles are keys to success for all Texas gardeners. When choosing such soil amendments, avoid materials which may be alkaline or “hot” (containing fresh … Continue reading "Planting" If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well. These azaleas grow from 3 to 8 feet tall. The best time to plant is early spring; they set their buds for the next season in late spring and summer. ** Updated planting video available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5al9i_69ldE&t=2s Learn how to plant Encore Azaleas with inventor Robert "Buddy" Lee. In very cold USDA zone 3 and 4 climates, … Azaleas ready for spring planting are usually in flower so you can see what the shrub will look like. However, avoid areas that get midday or hot afternoon sun--plants in full sun are susceptible to lacebugs and spider mites. Azaleas are commonly planted outside during the spring and fall. I grew up in Bartlesville, Okla., and played in my parent's l-acre Oriental style garden of azaleas, lanterns, ponds, maples, and bamboo in the '60s. Azaleas are upright growing flowering shrubs that produce some of the most beautiful flowers in existence. Fall-planted azaleas have the time to establish their roots before the extreme heat of summer arrives. This depends on the ultimate size of the azalea. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. I've seen old specimens of traditional Formosa azaleas cut back to just above ground level, and they've rejuvenated. Don't cultivate around these plants, as they have shallow roots.