News Release Distributed 03/25/11
By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings
Azaleas are Louisiana’s most popular shrub in home landscapes. Although fall is considered the best time to plant azaleas, the vast majority of azaleas are planted in spring. This is, of course, when garden centers have the best selection and is the time of year that gardeners see azaleas in bloom.
Typically, azaleas in Louisiana bloom from mid-March through mid-April, although that can vary by a week or two from year to year. Many azaleas also flower in fall.
You can have long-term, positive results with azaleas in your landscape by selecting the correct variety, planting properly and providing the most ideal growing conditions.
Before purchasing azaleas, make sure you ask what the mature size will be for the plants you intend to buy. Depending on the variety, azaleas may mature at less than 2 feet tall up to 10 feet tall. Don’t purchase a type of azalea that will grow too large for the spot where it will be planted.
Spring-planted azaleas may take a little longer to become established than those planted in fall or winter. Flowering and shoot growth are going to occur at the time the azaleas are being planted. This will slow down root growth and establishment.
Fall and winter, actually, are better times to plant. This encourages root growth before spring bloom and shoot growth commence. Gardeners really should avoid summer planting, although you can be successful at that time by providing extra care, primarily watering.
Many azalea varieties will tolerate full sun if provided with adequate moisture. Generally, however, azaleas grow best under a partial-sun-to-partial-shade environment. Four to six hours of morning sun provided by an eastern exposure are considered ideal.
Azaleas tend to have sparse foliage, look leggy and bloom poorly when planted in too much shade. But if they’re grown in too much sun, azaleas may wilt constantly during hot, dry weather and scorch on their leaf edges. Western sun exposure during the summer months and into the early fall is hard on azalea plants.
Uniformity in soil moisture is important for good azalea growth and establishment in a landscape setting. Azaleas require good drainage but also need an even supply of moisture. They will not thrive in constantly wet or constantly dry locations.
Consider the texture and structure of the soil. Azaleas prefer a moderately acid soil in the 5.5 pH range. We recommend planting them in a raised bed 6 inches high and amending native soil with pine bark or a similar organic material.
Many, many azalea varieties are recommended for Louisiana landscapes. Popular ones include the Southern Indica, Robin Hill, Satsuki and Encore groups.
Visit LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see sustainable landscape practices in action. The home and landscape resource center is near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive (Louisiana Highway 30) in Baton Rouge, across the street from the LSU baseball stadium. For more information, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/lahouse and www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn.
Rick Bogren