Azaleas

With more than 6,000 varieties of azaleas available today, most people are able to find one to suit their zonal requirements. Azaleas grow best in mild, humid regions, but that’s not exactly the climate in Dallas. In Dallas, the variety of azalea that performs best is 'Southern Elegance', says Jimmy.

The newest azaleas give you a show of colorful blooms in the spring and then perform an encore in the fall. They’re known as 'Encore' for a reason! 'Encore' azaleas also seem to be a little more heat- and alkaline-tolerant, so they’re an excellent choice for the south.

Azaleas are moderately forgiving plants, but there are some things that have to be just so. Here are some important general rules that must be adhered to for azaleas:

• Make sure the plant receives afternoon shade.
  
• Water regularly.
  
• Fertilize two to three times a year.
  
• Mulch twice a year with pine bark or pine needles.

In addition to those general requirements, azlaeas also require good drainage and proper soil preparation. If you live in an area with heavy clay alkaline soil (like Texas), what do you do?

Create the perfect planting area with a combination of composted pine bark mixed with sandy loam and peat moss. Make a raised bed by mounding the planting medium a foot to 18 inches high (figure A). To provide the best drainage possible, use expanded shale (figure B). A two-inch layer of these "puffed rocks" will allow water to flow through the roots beautifully.

Next add a few handfuls of high nitrogen fertilizer (figure C) that also contains sulfur and iron. Mix it all together and maintain your raised bed mound. Push the center soil aside and make an indentation for the azalea. Place the plant in the middle (figure D), mound the soil back up around the top, and mulch.

If you want to combine other plants with the same cultural requirement as your azaleas try camellias, Japanese maples, Heuchera and ferns.

If your azaleas begin to look a little ratty, a light pruning (figure E) can keep them more compact and attractive. The best time to do this is shortly after they flower in the spring. After pruning, Jimmy recommends mulching with composted pine bark or pine needles to help retain soil moisture. It’s also the perfect time to fertilize your azaleas.