Apologies for another beginner's corner question.

I'm trying to do the best for a couple of azaleas which look to me to
be in serious need of some TLC.

Now that they've finished flowering I've nipped off the spent flower
heads, done a careful pruning - there was some towering sort of growth
and I'd like to encourage a more spreading habit - and I'm about to
dig in some ericaceous compost for a feed and a more acid environment
but here I've hit a snag.

One of the plants appears to have been planted quite high in the
surrounding soil and whatever might have been the medium it was
originally planted in is almost impervious to the trowel - it's a kind
of inseparable peaty mass.

Is it ok to dig as aggressively as would be required to penetrate into
it in order to introduce the ericaceous stuff or should I just lay the
compost on top of what's already there?

I'm assuming whatever it is, this growing medium must have been
deployed for it's water holding properties. Is it of any particular
benefit to buy plants sold like this?

In message , lid
writes
Apologies for another beginner's corner question.

I'm trying to do the best for a couple of azaleas which look to me to
be in serious need of some TLC.

Now that they've finished flowering I've nipped off the spent flower
heads, done a careful pruning - there was some towering sort of growth
and I'd like to encourage a more spreading habit - and I'm about to
dig in some ericaceous compost for a feed and a more acid environment
but here I've hit a snag.

One of the plants appears to have been planted quite high in the
surrounding soil and whatever might have been the medium it was
originally planted in is almost impervious to the trowel - it's a kind
of inseparable peaty mass.

Is it ok to dig as aggressively as would be required to penetrate into
it in order to introduce the ericaceous stuff or should I just lay the
compost on top of what's already there?

Rhododendron's have a reputation for being shallow rooted. If this is
equally true for azaleas aggressive digging would seem to
contraindicated.

I'm assuming whatever it is, this growing medium must have been
deployed for it's water holding properties. Is it of any particular
benefit to buy plants sold like this?

--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

On Wed, 20 May 2009, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote
In message ,
writes
Apologies for another beginner's corner question.

I'm trying to do the best for a couple of azaleas which look to me to
be in serious need of some TLC.

Now that they've finished flowering I've nipped off the spent flower
heads, done a careful pruning - there was some towering sort of growth
and I'd like to encourage a more spreading habit - and I'm about to
dig in some ericaceous compost for a feed and a more acid environment
but here I've hit a snag.

One of the plants appears to have been planted quite high in the
surrounding soil and whatever might have been the medium it was
originally planted in is almost impervious to the trowel - it's a kind
of inseparable peaty mass.

Is it ok to dig as aggressively as would be required to penetrate into
it in order to introduce the ericaceous stuff or should I just lay the
compost on top of what's already there?

Rhododendron's have a reputation for being shallow rooted. If this is
equally true for azaleas aggressive digging would seem to
contraindicated.

On the other hand (writes a beginner at this gardening thing), I had an
azalea that had outgrown its pot and I wanted to put it in a trough. I
managed to separate it into three clumps, pulling the roots apart, and
replanted the clumps in a line in the trough. Three years later they are
flourishing well, even though they are neglected most of the year (they
are in the French garden. They did get a bit of gall trouble this spring
but are otherwise lovely). So it seems that cutting into some roots
didn't destroy them.


--
Kate B

PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at cockaigne dot org dot uk if you
want to reply personally

In message , Kate Brown
writes
On Wed, 20 May 2009, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote
In message ,
writes
Apologies for another beginner's corner question.

I'm trying to do the best for a couple of azaleas which look to me to
be in serious need of some TLC.

Now that they've finished flowering I've nipped off the spent flower
heads, done a careful pruning - there was some towering sort of growth
and I'd like to encourage a more spreading habit - and I'm about to
dig in some ericaceous compost for a feed and a more acid environment
but here I've hit a snag.

One of the plants appears to have been planted quite high in the
surrounding soil and whatever might have been the medium it was
originally planted in is almost impervious to the trowel - it's a kind
of inseparable peaty mass.

Is it ok to dig as aggressively as would be required to penetrate into
it in order to introduce the ericaceous stuff or should I just lay the
compost on top of what's already there?

Rhododendron's have a reputation for being shallow rooted. If this is
equally true for azaleas aggressive digging would seem to
contraindicated.

On the other hand (writes a beginner at this gardening thing), I had an
azalea that had outgrown its pot and I wanted to put it in a trough. I
managed to separate it into three clumps, pulling the roots apart, and
replanted the clumps in a line in the trough. Three years later they
are flourishing well, even though they are neglected most of the year
(they are in the French garden. They did get a bit of gall trouble this
spring but are otherwise lovely). So it seems that cutting into some
roots didn't destroy them.


Rhododendrons are tolerant of some root damage; it's been said that
there won't flower well until they've been taken for ride round the
garden in a wheelbarrow.

Digging up an azalea is not the same as digging over all the ground
around its stem.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

On Wed, 20 May 2009 15:17:40 +0100, Stewart Robert Hinsley
wrote:

Rhododendron's have a reputation for being shallow rooted. If this is
equally true for azaleas aggressive digging would seem to
contraindicated.


- thanks. I did stop digging - hopefully soon enough.

On Wed, 20 May 2009 18:13:53 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

Rhodies and azaleas have shallow fibrous roots that can be quite
densely packed. I wouldn't dig closely around their roots. Give it a
thick mulch of leaf mould, pine needles or peat. I wouldn't use
commercial ericaceous compost as it can be rather dense, and burying
the roots might deprive them of air. For feed, I'd water with a
solution either of commercial ericaceous feed, or simply sulphate of
ammonia, one level dessert spoon per gallon.

I'll get hold of one of these liquids.

When should one feed/how often?

In message , lid
writes
On Wed, 20 May 2009 15:17:40 +0100, Stewart Robert Hinsley
wrote:

Rhododendron's have a reputation for being shallow rooted. If this is
equally true for azaleas aggressive digging would seem to
contraindicated.


- thanks. I did stop digging - hopefully soon enough.

Now we hope for an expert to come along and give us information from the
horse's mouth.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

On Thu, 21 May 2009 18:09:04 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

On Thu, 21 May 2009 09:37:44 +0200, bob wrote:

On Wed, 20 May 2009 18:13:53 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

Rhodies and azaleas have shallow fibrous roots that can be quite
densely packed. I wouldn't dig closely around their roots. Give it a
thick mulch of leaf mould, pine needles or peat. I wouldn't use
commercial ericaceous compost as it can be rather dense, and burying
the roots might deprive them of air. For feed, I'd water with a
solution either of commercial ericaceous feed, or simply sulphate of
ammonia, one level dessert spoon per gallon.

I'll get hold of one of these liquids.

When should one feed/how often?

They're not liquids but loose crystalline powders, easily soluble in
water. Rhodies and azaleas don't need feeding that frequently; once or
twice between now and say the middle of July, then a feed with similar
strength sulphate of potash to promote bud formation for next year's
flowers.

many thanks - I'll follow your advice.