Azalea
Azalea have highly toxic leaves and nectar if ingested. At one time receiving azaleas in a black vase was a well known death threat!
Azaleas are flowering evergreen shrubs. They bloom red, salmon, pink, white, purple flowers in the Spring that last for several weeks. Azaleas thrive while living in partially shaded areas i.e. under trees or the side of home or business. Azaleas have been selectively bred for hundreds of years through cuttings and germinating seeds. They are slow are slow growing ornamentals that are a top choice among landscape designers and homeowners favorites. Azaleas originated in Japan and South Asia which is where they received their technical name Indica Azaleas, at the time that area was called the East Indies. Furthermore, Japan and the Southeast United States share the same subtropical humid climate which make azaleas a beaut relatively low maintenance shrub. Azaleas grow when fully mature 8 to 12 feet tall and wide. Azaleas thrive in areas with morning sun and light afternoon shade. More sun and light usually produces more compact plants with more blooms that last shorter periods of time. Also soil acidity should be in the range of 4.5 to 6.0 pH with dry well drained soil. Poor drainage can lead to problems with rot and fungus. In Houston many areas have heavy clay which drain poorly, to combat this issue plant the azalea root ball a few inches above ground level and mound soil up to the base of the truck. Also, the best time to plant is in the early Spring and Fall.
There are methods to insure your azalea shrubs will Flourish. First ensure the soil is not alkaline, too acidic. This can be determined by a simple soil test. The soil can also be prepared by adding a light amount of organic material dug into the top layer of soil, which reduces compaction and promotes drainage of moisture by gravity. If plant is wilting when you arrive at home water slowly before planting. Turn container upside-down and pull away from plant. Now that the root ball is exposed, cut off roots that are wrapping around the ball or matted. The next step is to dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and plant the top of the root ball sphere even with the top of the hole, or slightly higher for improved drainage. Definitely avoid having the plant sink down after planting. To insure this make sure the bottom of the whole is compact. After placed, turn the plant to best appearance then fill space with soil pushing firm with fingers. Avoid air spaces and over compaction. When adding mulch to azaleas use shredded leaves, pine needles, or pine bark mulch. These are low density so the surface should be flat to avoid erosion from hard rains. Do not use hardwood mulch since it could raise the acidity of the soil. Water slowly and thoroughly immediately after planting and the following day, water once a week for the next several weeks.
Azaleas are flowering evergreen shrubs. They bloom red, salmon, pink, white, purple flowers in the Spring that last for several weeks. Azaleas thrive while living in partially shaded areas i.e. under trees or the side of home or business. Azaleas have been selectively bred for hundreds of years through cuttings and germinating seeds. They are slow are slow growing ornamentals that are a top choice among landscape designers and homeowners favorites. Azaleas originated in Japan and South Asia which is where they received their technical name Indica Azaleas, at the time that area was called the East Indies. Furthermore, Japan and the Southeast United States share the same subtropical humid climate which make azaleas a beaut relatively low maintenance shrub. Azaleas grow when fully mature 8 to 12 feet tall and wide. Azaleas thrive in areas with morning sun and light afternoon shade. More sun and light usually produces more compact plants with more blooms that last shorter periods of time. Also soil acidity should be in the range of 4.5 to 6.0 pH with dry well drained soil. Poor drainage can lead to problems with rot and fungus. In Houston many areas have heavy clay which drain poorly, to combat this issue plant the azalea root ball a few inches above ground level and mound soil up to the base of the truck. Also, the best time to plant is in the early Spring and Fall.
There are methods to insure your azalea shrubs will Flourish. First ensure the soil is not alkaline, too acidic. This can be determined by a simple soil test. The soil can also be prepared by adding a light amount of organic material dug into the top layer of soil, which reduces compaction and promotes drainage of moisture by gravity. If plant is wilting when you arrive at home water slowly before planting. Turn container upside-down and pull away from plant. Now that the root ball is exposed, cut off roots that are wrapping around the ball or matted. The next step is to dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and plant the top of the root ball sphere even with the top of the hole, or slightly higher for improved drainage. Definitely avoid having the plant sink down after planting. To insure this make sure the bottom of the whole is compact. After placed, turn the plant to best appearance then fill space with soil pushing firm with fingers. Avoid air spaces and over compaction. When adding mulch to azaleas use shredded leaves, pine needles, or pine bark mulch. These are low density so the surface should be flat to avoid erosion from hard rains. Do not use hardwood mulch since it could raise the acidity of the soil. Water slowly and thoroughly immediately after planting and the following day, water once a week for the next several weeks.