Thanks fellas, both good suggestions.

Katherine


Lavender is always good.


Azaleas and camelias will both require acid soils. Any soil that is near
buildings or walls will require treatment as both contain lime, which is
alkaline. In days of yore plasterers had dumping grounds around the yard
for leftover and waste materials so this could be a cause.
I always top up pine needles as mulch, which over time builds up good
leaf mould, retains moisture and provides good acidity. The mulch also
keeps down weeds. You'll find that azaleas have a root system that is
fine and close to the surface so they need adequate moisture to survive
and camelias also like moisture.
Camelias are not the flowers that turn black if you touch them.