East Texas is blessed with the climate and soil to grow azaleas, one of the brightest of plants. As a sub species of the rhododendron family, it has adapted to our mild winters and warm summers. The acidic, sandy soils of east Texas are ideal for this prolific bloomer.
Nurserymen have developed many varieties and each has its own growth habit and color. They look best when left to their natural shape so select a plant that will fit your landscape need. Tall varieties will grow to more than eight feet. Medium sizes will reach five feet, while the smaller plants will grow to three feet. The spread of the plant must also be considered since azaleas mature rapidly.
The blooming periods of azaleas vary from early (March - mid April), mid-season (mid April - May), to late (May - June). If a color, or combination of colors is used in the same bed, make sure the blooming periods coincide to maximize impact to the landscape.
Location of the planting is important because azaleas do best with exposure to eastern light or filtered shade. If these conditions are not possible, then select azaleas that have a thicker leaf which will tolerate more sun. In all cases, elevate the bed to give them good drainage, and mulch to protect the shallow roots from summer heat.
Feed after last bloom drop with Azalea-Camellia food, then lightly once a month during growth.
Paul Ferguson, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
Spring time is azalea time and here's how to help them repeat their blooms next year.
If your plants are in need of some pruning for shape or size, wait until the blooms have fallen before attacking them with your pruners. If there are dead branches, cut them back to green wood and inspect for freeze damage indicated by bark splitting.
Azaleas are tough plants so prune as needed. For neater plants, pick off spent blooms. Wait to feed after the pruning. Use an azalea fertilizer and follow the label recommendation.
If these are new plantings and you are unfamiliar with azaleas, go to a nursery and see the plants in bloom. Select a flower color you like, but don't forget leaf shape and color. Many varieties have leaves that turn bronze in the fall, adding color to a normally bland winter landscape.
If you have a special place and size in mind, then ask about their growth habits. Don't try to control a large variety in a lows small area. It won't work.
To help keep your plants looking nice, use an azalea fertilizer after blooming and follow the label recommendations. Be careful of using a fertilizer too high in nitrogen as is common with many lawn fertilizers since this can burn and even kill the bushes. Azaleas benefit from a more acidic fertilizer combination than other plants, so a slow release fertilizer made especially for azaleas can really help keep your bushes healthy.
Have you noticed that the leaves of your azalea bushes look silvered or white, not dark green? Look on the underside of the leaf and if you see small dark spots, this a sure sign of the azalea lace bug. The azalea lace bug is a small, nearly invisible, flying insect common in east Texas. Severe infestations can do a lot of harm to azaleas. If the lace bug population is small and little damage is apparent, wash the bugs off with a strong water spray from a garden hose. When the infestation is light and water doesn't seem to work then try using an insecticidal soap as the first step in chemical control. For a heavy infestation, use products containing dimethoate (Cygon), acephate (Orthene), carbaryl (Sevin), or malathion. Repeat at 10- to 14-day intervals, if necessary, to maintain effective control.
Paul Ferguson, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
Now that spring is just around the corner, many people start wondering when they should fertilize their azaleas. The best time to fertilize azaleas is right after they finish blooming. Apply a slow release nitrogen fertilizer to stimulate good growth for the spring and summer. About eight weeks later, apply an acid-type fertilizer labeled "for azaleas, camellias, and gardenias." Reapply the azalea fertilizer about every six weeks until the middle of September to stimulate good bud set for the next year's bloom period. Apply small amounts each application, lightly scattering over root area.
Yellowed leaves with dark green veins are characteristic of iron deficiency. If your azaleas start showing signs of iron deficiency, there are several ways to treat them:
- Apply a soil acidifier such as sulfur to allow iron that is already in the soil to return to an available form.
- Apply a chelated (treated to maintain solubility) iron material or copperas (iron sulfate) to the soil.
- Apply a granular iron to the soil.
- Apply a foliar spray of an iron compound; this must be done during the growing period and will have much shorter residual action than the soil applications.
If you need to prune your azaleas, do so after they finish blooming. Minor reshaping is usually all they will need. And remember not to prune any more than necessary after midsummer or you will be cutting off buds that have started to form for the following spring.
Celeste Plunkett, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
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