Phisherman wrote:
On Mon, 18 May 2009 11:19:45 -0700, "W"
wrote:

I'm trying to plant Azalea Trees for the first time, and I've been told they
are temperamental and difficult to grow. I wanted to get opinions on these
issues:

1) I was told to plant them in shade. In California, where the sun in
summer might be 95 to 105 frequently, how many hours a day can the trees
have direct sunlight?

2) I was told to use an acid soil. The instructions for that soil say to
mix one part existing soil with two parts of the acid plant mix. How
important is it to mix in with the existing soil, and can you just plant in
the acid mix directly?

3) I know you should not use peat moss directly as the soil, but could you
put in a base of peat moss well under the plant just to give it a reservoir
of water that the roots could grow down to and across? Is there any harm
in having a small top layer of peat moss, just to give a slow drip of water
down to the roots from the top?

4) How often should you add fertilizer on the top soil layer?

Any other tips on caring for Azalea trees?


They prefer a few hours of sun per day. They don't mind heat/sun but
prefer cool roots, mulch w/ pine needles. Keep soil pH 7. An acid
plant mix is good.


I think this must be spot on advice as I'm following it accidentally.

Mine are planted in the shade under the cover of pines and heavily
mulched with pine straw. I never water them (or for that matter feed
them), but they are well established. They are known to be acid lovers
and don't mind pruning.

They don't seem to mind heat, although 100's are rare here, we do get
strings of them every few years.

They obviously love this kind of treatment as they are monsters
(varieties vary in size) in the neighborhood of 10' * 10' wide. It's a
real knockout when they are in bloom.

Jeff


Using peat moss in the soil and/or as a mulch is
good. After they bloom, prune if needed, and then fertilize monthly
with an acid fertilizer until fall. Keep watch for insect damage.
Select another plant if you have deer.