1) Use Rich Soil – Azaleas love rich soil. Chances are that the soil in your yard is, well, not-so-rich. Many of us have sandy soil which doesn’t help Azaleas get the nutrients they need. Plant with Black Gold Ultra Outdoor Planting Mix to add organic material and create a soil condition that Azaleas will thrive in.
2) Water Well – I know, I know, you get tired of us lecturing you about watering plants, but it is hands down the most important thing you can do to establish strong new plants. Water daily for the first month, always in the morning with a good deep soaking. In the second month, go to every other day, and in month three, you can back down to twice weekly. Follow that initial watering schedule and you will have beautiful blooming Azaleas for years to come.
3) Time Your Pruning – Spring-blooming Azaleas set their blooms in the fall. So if you prune Azaleas in late fall or winter, you’ll prune off the blooms you are working so hard to get. Save pruning your Azaleas until just after they finish blooming in the spring.
4) Feed Azaleas – Azaleas can struggle to take up nutrients in poor Florida soil, so make sure you supplement with The Kerby’s Special. Our complete fertilizer has everything Azaleas need, including all of the major and minor elements. Fertilize monthly in the first year and then in spring, summer, and fall in subsequent years.
5) Watch for Pests – Strongly rooted, healthy Azaleas don’t have a lot of pest and disease issues. But two of the most common issues we see are lace bugs and leaf spot disease. Lace bugs cause the leaves to look a brownish-gray color. They live on the undersides and feed on the chlorophyll in the leaves. Use Systemic Insect Control if you see this issue to treat and prevent the insects’ return. Leaf spot disease often happens in rainy season when it is wet and humid. That can be treated with Liquid Systemic Fungicide. And remember, if you ever have plant issues, bring us a sample of the problem and we’ll identify and find a solution to make sure your plants are growing their best.