Thanks for the helpful azalea info Jim.

Like Steve, I have a six azalea's here in PA that are prime candidates for
pots.
All are 10 years old and must be removed to accommodate changes in my wife's
garden.
I guess Steve's trees where in better growing conditions than mine because
mine are only 2 feet tall with 1 inch multiple trunks.

During the past winter a number of them suffered from severe freezing and
most of the leaves are brown and apparently dead. I think this was a
combination of cold temps and wind. They don't look too healthy.
I first thought that most of the branches were dead, but near the ends of
some of them there are one or two leaves with a single flower.

I'm rather concerned about digging them up, because they have very few
leaves to support future growth.
But sooner or later, they'll have to be moved to make room for new trees
etc.

Any suggestions ?


Mark Hill - Harrisburg PA - Zone 6





-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ] On Behalf Of
Jim Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 8:06 PM
To:

A friend of mine at work says she is looking to get rid of
azalea bushes in
her yard. I havent seen them. But she says they have been
around her house
for at least the six years that they have lived there. one of
them is about
five feet tall... and some with trunks about 2-3 inches. there
are 8 in
all. I see this as a possible prime collecting possiblity. But
know nothing
about collecting azalea. They are either in bloom at this point
or are in
bud. Should i wait untill the fall? next spring? or should i
just go for
it.... cutting them back and getting the best root ball i can?


You can collect azaleas while or after they're blooming. If
while, be sure to remove all flowers and buds.

Azalea roots are compact, so you won't need (or get for
6-year-old [in the ground] plants) a large root ball. If you
dig about one half of the diameter of the canopy you should be
fine. You can cut the top back to stubs, but keep in mind their
future potential.

I would plant them in a LARGE pot, preferably a shallow one. A
10-15-gallon nursery pot cut down to 8 inches, or so, should be
perfect. Use bonsai soil. Keep damp but not wet. Keep in
fairly heavy shade though the summer (maybe light shade in Pa, I
don't know what your summers are like). You can give 20-20-20
fertilizer in a week or so, then every 2 weeks through the
summer.

Next fall and winter, remove any flower buds that form. I'd let
them grow in these pots for a couple of years.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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