Azalea Care Tips

Types of Azalea:

Encore: 3'x4'
Formoza: 6-8' x 5-6'

Perfecta Mondo: 2.5' x 3-4'
Ruffle: 2-4'x2-4'

Azaleas thrive in partial shade or dappled sunlight, with morning sun being ideal. Too much sun can stress them, while too little may reduce flowering. They prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil(pH 4.5–6.0). Avoid waterlogged conditions due to their shallow roots. Naturally acidic soil is ideal,but neutral or alkaline soil may require amendments like aluminum sulfate, sulfur, acidic fertilizer,or iron sulfate. Gentle options include coffee grounds, pine needle mulch, or sphagnum peat moss. In milder regions, azaleas can be planted year-round, but spring and fall are best. Fall planting is ideal, allowing roots to establish before supporting new growth and flowers in spring.

When planting keep your soil type in mind if your soil needs to be amended do so. When planting make sure the root ball is above level ground by 2 inches to prevent rot root or fungus.

Fertilizing:

Fertilize azaleas in spring after they finish blooming. A midsummer boost may help in rainy conditions but avoid fertilizing during peak summer heat. Follow fertilizer’s instructions.Acidic fertilizer is ideal, especially for less acidic soil.

Pruning:

To prune azaleas for a natural look, cut stems at varying heights inside the plant in a“W” pattern, always trimming at branch points.This allows sunlight to reach the interior, preserving their “cloudlike” shape. Step back occasionally to assess progress. Regular pruning removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Encourages blooming when done at the righttime. Maintains shape and size, preventing overgrowth. Improving air circulation to reduce disease risk.

Sprayer Use:

• A pump-up sprayer is recommended.
• Avoid leaving chemicals in the sprayer after use.

Seasonal Adjustments:

• Reduce spraying during hot summer months following chemical instructions.

Watering Systems:

• Avoid overhead watering to minimize fungal leaf issues.
• Use drip irrigation as the best method for watering.

Yellow Leaves

Bright yellow leaves on azaleas are usually due to natural leaf molting. Evergreen shrubs like azaleas lose leaves gradually, not all at once, but often triggered by new leaf buds in the fall. Nutrient deficiency (likely nitrogen or iron) can be a cause, but lace bugs can also be a reason.

Treatment: Ensure proper drainage, top dress with organic matter, and test the soil. If needed, apply a general-purpose or azalea-specific fertilizer in spring. Both issues are easily treatable.

Leaf Rollers

Identify: Azalea leaf miners only affect azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), causing two types of damage. Initially, mines are pale and hard to see, but they later form brown blisters on the leaf surface. As the larvae mature, they emerge from the leaf tissue, curl the leaf edge for protection, and continue feeding, damaging the tip. Severely damaged leaves yellow and drop, resulting in an unsightly plant.

Treatments: To manage a leaf roller problem, prune and dispose of infested leaves and branches to reduce their population. Regularly inspect plants and manually remove caterpillars or rolled leaves. Encourage natural predators like birds and beneficial insects to help control the issue. Additionally, promote plant health through proper watering, fertilization, and care to reduce susceptibility to infestations.

Lace Bug or Spider Mite

Most azaleas experience light lace bug infestations with minimal harm, but heavy infestations can bleach or bronze leaves, stunting growth and reducing blooms. These infestations are more likely in full sun or drought-stressed plants.

Identify: Lace bugs (adults and nymphs) insert stylets into leaf stomates to suck sap, causing bleached, stippled patches that resemble spider mite damage.

Treatment: For quick control, apply a foliar systemic insecticide like acephate orimidacloprid. For longer-lasting prevention, use a soil-applied systemic treatment,such as imidacloprid-based products like Fertilome or Bonide. Follow label instructions.

Aphids

Identify: Look for discolored foliage, black sooty mold caused by honeydew, and white egg sacs in branch forks (May–June). Reddish crawlers appear from late June to July.

Treatment: Apply insecticide to the entire plant to eliminate infestations and follow up with routine applications as directed on the product label to prevent recurrence.

Bark Scales

Identify: Yellowing leaves, dying branches, and honeydew deposits on bark andleaves, which lead to sooty mold fungus. White scale crusts become visible as thebark darkens. Severe infestations, though rare, are typically not fatal if treated.

Treatment: Spray the entire plant with insecticide to eliminate aphids and prevent further damage. Follow up with routine applications as directed by the product instructions.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is common on deciduous azaleas, especially young plants in shaded, damp conditions. It appears as powdery white growth on leaves, often worsening in cool, moist weather. The fungi spread via windborne spores and over winter in bud scales, leading to reinfection.

Symptoms: Powdery white growth on leaves, sometimes covering them entirely. Black specks may appear in late summer or fall. The disease thrives in humid, crowded, and shaded areas.

Treatment: Treat when symptoms first appear on new growth. Late summer treatments are unnecessary for deciduous azaleas. Avoid sulfur-based products in temperatures over 85°F or shortly after applying oil sprays.

Root Rot/ Water Mold

Encore Azaleas are susceptible to root rot, or “water mold,” especially in standing water during warm weather. This fungus causes yellowing leaves and wilting.Prevent it by mulching with pine bark and mixing it into the soil to improve drainage and oxygen levels.

Symptoms: Early signs include slow growth, dull foliage, and midday wilting.Advanced stages show twig dieback and drooping, inward-curled olive-greenleaves.

Treatment: Phytophthora root rot is difficult to treat. Remove and destroy affected branches, then apply a fungicide to the soil, following label instructions carefully.