How to care for Rhododendrons and Azaleas

My friend Paree the Prada Girl just bought a new house. Remember, she’s the girl who doesn’t garden. So she sold her relatively low maintenance house and purchased a house with a high maintenance yard. I will write more about this in another post.

I’m trying to give Paree and her hubby a little advice on plant care. Their yard is fairly shady and I noticed that they have a lot of rhododendrons and azaleas. These beautiful plants are starting to look a bit stressed, so I thought that I would write about caring for them.

Rhododendrons and azaleas are closely related plants that fall under the genus rhododendron. Rhododendrons are evergreen. They are larger with big leathery leaves. Some grow to well over ten feet. They produce large flowers at the end of their branches.

Azaleas are smaller and more compact with smaller leaves and blooms. Some are evergreen some are deciduous. Both rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in early spring. Their blooms tend to be vibrant, and mostly in shades of red, purple, pink and white. Azaleas are covered with blooms in the spring. Both rhododendrons and azaleas like light shade, although some species of azaleas can take a lot of sunlight.

They love acidic well-drained soil with lots of organic matter in it, soil that isn’t soggy or clay like. The soil should be moist, however they will die if they sit in water for too long. Rhododendron and azaleas will not survive in dry conditions. They need soil that is both fast draining and water retentive.

If there is not enough acid in the soil, the leaves will turn yellow and the edges with look burnt. You can treat this by applying fertilizer made for acid loving plants, and or iron chelate. Be careful though, you don’t want to overdo it. You might even experiment by using a dosage that is half what the label suggests. Better to fertilize half as much twice as often.

When you plant a rhododendron, dig a hole that is two or three times as big as the plant’s container. Lift the plant from the container and place it the hole. Fill in the area around the root ball with highly organic soil. Soil amended with sphagnum peat moss is good for acidity. Make sure you plant your rhododendron with the top of the root ball showing. Never allow the soil to bury the stems.

When rhododendrons are first planted, make sure they get enough water. Their roots are fine and they take a long time to grow into the surrounding area. At first they will rely on the moisture from their root ball. Make sure the root ball is getting wet and not just the surrounding area. Both Azaleas and rhododendron are surface rooters and will benefit from mulch. Mulch with pine needles, oak leaves, redwood or fir chips.

To keep your plants looking full and healthy, you will need to prune them.

Prune rhododendrons in spring before they bloom. You will have to give up some of the blooms, but it is the best time to prune.

You can pinch back azaleas frequently after they are done blooming, through August.

Paree, this is your first gardening lesson. Aren’t you excited? O.K., forget it, let’s just go shoe shopping.

I found this picture of me on a rhododendron farm and the tea I was drinking almost came out my nose. See, when I get around flowers I get so excited I forget to dress myself properly. What am I wearing? Scary.

Comments

[Liz]

Hi Thanks for the wonderful directions on caring for Rhodes! The pictures were beautiful as well.

[kate]

Hey, you look great under the straw hat ... the planting and care instructions are great. Thank you ... maybe now I can keep an Azalea alive here.

Was thinking of you when I had to use my shoe - well sandal, since it's so hot here - and hammer in a nail for my friend's clock.

[chigiy]

Liz,
Thank you for stopping by

Kate,
I bought the hat at a second hand store in Santa Cruz for $3.
My husband doesn't understand that shoes are some of the best tools.

[Chitweed]

The pictures of and the care for the rhodies and azaleas is great. So is your picture in the straw hat...I think you look quite fetching.

[Annie in Austin]

Is that an elbow patch, Professor Chigiy? Or a shadow? You look great in the hat.

It's hard enough keeping a couple of camellias alive in our alkaline land, so I'll just enjoy your wonderful Rhododendron photos without actually killing any. The top photo just makes me go all wobbly. I've never seen one that color in person.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

[chigiy]

Annie,
Yes it's an elbow patch. Hey, it was on sale. It was wool. I was cold.

Isn't the color of that rhodie fabulous? I wish I could claim it as my own, but I took the photo at a nursery:(

[Kylee]

Thank you for this information! I lost two beautiful azaleas last winter, but have a large one planted this spring that's doing great. I've also got one that I purchased in Florida and it actually overwintered outside, which surprised me! It didn't bloom this year, but maybe next?

[paree]

I have not seen anything that looks like your photos in my yard. I think my alleged rhodies are dying. Call me when you get back from camping. Also, please only use photos of me circa 1994...I look much better.

[chigiy]

Paree,
I would try watering your rhododendrons, this way they may not die. This is just a suggestion.
Please send me photos of yourself before 1994. I want to check out your hairstyle.

[alex]

wow, just found your blog- simple and amazing, thanks