How to Create an Azalea Bed

Azalea bushes bloom each spring with bright pink, red and white flowers and so make a lovely addition to any garden. Botanists classify azaleas in the Rhododendron genus. Azaleas occur in both deciduous (pentanthera species) and evergreen (tsutsuji species) forms. Deciduous azaleas shed their leaves each winter, while evergreen azaleas remain green all year long. Azaleas prefer mild, humid climates in USDA zones 4 and 5. Azaleas thrive in well-drained -- even sloped -- soil protected from harsh winds and intense, direct sunlight. Take care of your azalea bed and your azaleas will reward you with beautiful blooms each year.

Compost
Peat moss
Spade

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a planting area with light shading, such as a south-facing wall. The wall or a surrounding tree protects the azaleas from cold damage in the winter and from drying out in the summer.
- 2
  Spread 2 inches of compost and 1 inch of peat moss across the area to be planted.
- 3
  Spade the ground to be planted by inserting the spade 6 inches into the soil and turning to break up the soil and incorporate the compost and peat moss.
- 4
  Plant azalea starter plants four to five feet apart in the early fall or early spring. Consult the nursery for specific spacing based on the variety of azalea that you are planting. Dig a hole the depth of the nursery containers in each planting spot.
- 5
  Remove the plants from their nursery containers one at a time and loosen any tangled roots. Insert each plant into its own hole and water the soil until it is completely saturated around the roots.
- 6
  Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base of each plant to hold in moisture.
- 7
  Stick your finger into the soil to test for dryness every few days. Water when the soil is dry. Azaleas need regular watering but do not tolerate constant water saturation.

Water for Plants & Animals

Can I Mulch Around Flowers With Stones?

Flower Garden