by Patrick D

Created on: April 22, 2008   Last Updated: July 13, 2010

Rhododendrons and azaleas are in quite an interesting family of plants; most of them flower and put on quite a show. They come in a large selection of colours, from pink and purple to yellow and white, and some species are deciduous while others are evergreens. Some grow to a maximum size of about 10" to 15" inches while some are reported as big as fully-grown trees.

The key to successful Rhododendrons & Azaleas is to plant them in optimal locations for healthy growth. A healthy and vigorous plant can usually fend off most other problems including insects and diseases.

Rhododendrons like well-drained, acidic soil, light shade, and protection from desiccation in winter winds.

The most important thing to take into consideration when choosing a planting location for your Rhododendrons and Azaleas is soil pH. Rhododendrons like acidic soil usually around 4.5 to 5.5 pH [1] and this can be a problem in areas like mine that have mildly alkaline soils (my area is about 7.5 to 8.5 pH). If you aren't sure of the pH of your soil, the people at a local nursery or garden centre may be able to help, or you can buy a pH test kit to do it yourself.

Once you know your soil pH then you need to locate an area that will be able to provide the plant light, shade and winter wind protection. Ideal locations would be under, or near pine, spruce, oak, or cedar trees, as these trees can provide an effective windbreak and the needles/leaves from these trees tend to be acidic which can help maintain soil acidity when they decompose.

Once you have chosen your location, the first step in planting your rhododendron is to make the proper soil amendments. It is important to accomplish this step properly because once they are planted there isn't much that can be done to improve the soil afterwards, as rhododendron are long lived and have a shallow root system.

Start by loosening the soil in the planting area. Loosen an area about two or three times the width of the hole you will need for planting to accommodate future root growth. Once this is done cover the area with about 3 inches of both peat moss and good quality compost and mix it all together with the soil. Peat moss and compost are both naturally acidic, this will help maintain the acidic conditions in the soil. The only exception would be is if you have a heavy clay soil or a poorly drained location. In this case you will need to build a raised bed about 18 to 20" high and use a combination of 50% sandy loam topsoil and 25% each

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>