Asked on Nov 17, 2015
I planted six azaleas last spring and they bloomed as advertised
by
G
+23
The azaleas this year have not bloomed at all and have not shown any growth. three of them lost many of their leaves but have looked as though they have minimally recovered with a bit of new leafing. What can I do to give them a chance to continue to grow. They are in acidic soil. I have added pine needles and cones to their homes as well as some manure (dog) around them and have used some fertilizer. They are all in mulched beds (leaf and grass clippings from a mulching mower - loosely spread).
14 answers
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When did you do the amending to the soil? And Am I correct you used dog poop?
Janet Pizaro
on Nov 17, 2015
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Are they getting enough sun?
Sara Jones
on Nov 17, 2015
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I wish I had your problem, when we bought this home 10 years ago, the past owners planted an Azalea bush between the house and sidewalk, every year it grows taller than the roof and nasty dead blooms are all over the yard, it is pretty when they are blooming, but later, what a mess, these blooms are plate size. This thing will not die.
Kincaid99
on Nov 17, 2015
- See 1 previous
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Janet, the soil was amended at the time of planting with Miracle Grow, pine needles, and potting soil as well as the potting soil they were growing in. In the fall, I added the pine cones, grass, and leaves all mulched together to the top as well as the dog poop. Sara and Janet, they get morning sun until mid afternoon filtered lightly by neighboring trees and shade in the afternoon and early evening then more filtered sun inlate evening. Kincaid, I have a Rhody that was higher than the house and spread. From the house about ten feet. Absolutely gorgeous huge violet blooms but entirely too big. I cut it back drastically to out six feet high and only three feet out from the house. I plan to control that size as it is filling in nicely now and grass is growing where the shade had killed it previously.
G
on Nov 17, 2015
- See 2 previous
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Weather could have been a factor from the previous year or even 2! Severe weather conditions can affect azaleas years later. You live in PA where weather can be a serious factor for Azaleas. It doesn't have to be heavy snows or frigid temperatures...it can be even drought periods, or too much rain, or not enough rain. Stop using grass as part of your compost......very little grass cuttings go a long way and too much can be harmful. Also, don't use dog poop as a fertilizer. Not saying you did, but if you fertilized and used pre-emergence to fight weeds in your lawn it will carry some of the fertilizer and possible harmful ingredients with it. Holly-tone is an excellent fertilizer to use. Keep nitrogen levels down. Always prune Azaleas immediately after they shed their blooms. If you wait until late summer or Fall, you will run the risk of cutting off their new blooms that they are setting for the following Spring.
Greg von Seeger
on Nov 18, 2015
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Who planted these Azaleas? You may have to dig one up to check roots.Make sure you allowed enough room for the roots to spread.Root ball at planting needs to be spread out and not jammed in a hole as it came out of the pot.If roots are all balled up,plant cannot get enough water. ..Do not put Dog poop around any plants.It is too toxic.Prune soon after blooming to avoid cutting next year's buds.
Barbara C
on Nov 18, 2015
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I mixed half peat moss and half dirt for the hole and broke up the bound roots to loosen and planted shallow. These bushes have very shallow roots. My bushes are full of blooms each spring. They are planted on the north side at front of my house. They do well to have mulch for the hot summer months to help hold moisture. You can't dig around the bushes as you could cut and damage the roots. Pull weeds as needed.
Sue Sanders
on Nov 18, 2015
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Thank you Janet, Greg, Barbara, and Sue for your thoughts. I will make some adjustments and we can hope for more blooms in the spring.
G
on Nov 18, 2015
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Give it time and see what happens next Spring. Weather is always an issue as to how Azaleas perform. That long period of drought could have been a determining factor. Also, get some Holly-tone and follow the instructions when and how to apply. I had over 90 Azaleas on my property and they never performed exactly the same each year. After a period of drought one summer, I had very little blumes the following Spring, but a year later they were loaded. Be patient with Mother Nature.
Greg von Seeger
on Nov 18, 2015
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I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that you do not amend the soil. I have not amended soil in over 5 years and my plants grow healthier for it. I realized this when I planted a magnolia and amended the soil (I have red clay) and the plant started dying. I moved the plant to another location and did not amend the soil and now the plant is over 14' tall 5 years later (it was a stick about 4' when i started). I do not even buy healthy plants to start with either because I buy plants that are droopy and sad off the markdown racks. And fertilizing? And dog poop? Dog poop is unhealthy for the plants and for humans. Dogs eat dog food with processed grains and meat by products which plants do not want. My suggestion is to dig up the plants and take out that dirt and go get some of your unamended dirt from your yard and start over. Do not fertilizer when you transplant or newly plant something. Azaleas do well in clay acidic soil and you should not have to do anything but keep them mulched with the pine needles or wood mulch. As Greg above stated, Holly tone is what Azaleas usually want.
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Nov 18, 2015
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I realize that, but filter sun is needed.
Sara Jones
on Nov 19, 2015
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First of all NEVER USE DOG waste on anything! The manure gardeners use is either horse or cow. You have it correct that azaleas need an acid soil they also require to be out of direct sunlight filtered or slight shade is perfect. I amend mine with the help of store-bought fertilizers just for azaleas. And like you I over-winter mine as well with a heap of pine needs. Do you have any worms in the soil? If not then it is just too acid and needs enrichment. Since they are weaken from your description I would advise you let them be other than what I have recommended and let's see come this spring if the soil amended and the Pine needles protect from bitter winter than come this spring you should be please. One last thing Just thought of maybe it's also a root system issue in which case it would not hurt to place a good amount of coffee grounds around the base of shrub to encourage root growth during the winter. Hope my advice helps you enjoy one of the great garden must haves. Stay warm and wait this out, nature has a way to correct itself.
Suzette Trimmer
on Nov 21, 2015
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Azaleas make their new flower buds right after blooming. Is it possible someone pruned them off? When I deadhead my azaleas, I have to be careful not to break off the new buds.
Martha
on Nov 23, 2015
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I have read your last post on here G and have to ask: are these Encore Azaleas you planted? You said they are supposed to bloom 3 times (which Encores usually bloom 2-3 times but they are not as prolific as the spring blooms. Encore, in my experience, are a bit finicky and like more sun than shade. It does not hurt the deer to eat them since they are rebloomers. Deer graze along the ground and can smell flowers so if you coul plant in front the of the azaleas to deter the deer from eating them. I usually plant something that deer usually do not eat like coneflowers, other type of evergreen bushes, or even put a string fence around the azaleas. Good luck.
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Nov 23, 2015
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