Azaleas: A Key To Creating A Stunning Landscape

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For numerous folks, it’s not officially spring until they turn on the TV and see the azaleas that bloom each April at the Augusta National Country Club in Georgia-the website on the Masters professional golf tournament.

Azaleas are a large, diverse group of flowering shrubs with single and double blooms in a lot of shades of white, purple, red, pink or orange. Most bloom from early to late spring with several extending later into the growing season.

To enjoy the beauty of azaleas at your own house, begin by deciding on a variety that is well adapted for your garden environment and climate.

“Check with your local nursery, household center or cooperative extension service to see what they recommend depending on your region of the country,” says Bayer Advanced™ Back garden Expert Lance Walheim, who wrote the best-selling book “Roses for Dummies” and is often a regular contributor to Sunset magazine. He thinks choosing the right types and varieties for your region is the very first step to success. “Then choose a consistent color theme as opposed towards Crayola Crayon approach of mixing them up.”

Here are a couple of crucial tips for planting azaleas: Choose a planting site with light shade (some varieties can take some sun) and well-drained, acidic soil rich in organic matter; Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball. The top on the root ball ought to be slightly above the top on the surrounding soil; Lift the container off the plant and cut or loosen any matted roots off the root ball; After planting, apply a thick layer of organic mulch and keep soil slightly moist, never letting the plants dry out completely.

Azaleas can last for decades in your yard with proper watering and preventive measures to ward off destructive insects and diseases. Bayer Advanced Dual Protection Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Insect & Disease Control protects against aphids, Japanese beetles, lace bugs and leaf beetles while controlling diseases such as leaf spot, powdery mildew and rust. One application protects for up to six weeks and is applied as a drench-so no spraying. Just measure, mix and pour-it’s that quick to protect your investment and keep your azaleas gorgeous year-round.

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