The key to planting and propagating azaleas properly really involves the three main steps of planting anything. You have to plant, fertilize, and water in order for any plant to grow. Performing these steps with azaleas is not difficult, and you can have a yard full of these beautiful plants if you wish.

To plant properly, azaleas love peat moss instead of regular soil. Give them a nice bed when planting. The root system of the azalea plant consists of roots that are very fine, so give them lots of loose soil. The root also grow best in shallow plantings no deeper than nine inches. To plant, set the peat moss in the hole, and water it very well. Allow the peat moss to absorb the water. If you are in a hurry, you can water the bag of peat moss and let is absorb while you are preparing the hole for your plant.

Take a look at the root ball of the azalea. If it is tightly bound together, cut some of the root ball away to spread the roots out by trimming top to bottom. Planting is much wider than deeper for these plants, and you want the roots to be as spread out as possible when you are planting. If the azalea has been trapped in a small container, the roots will need this to help the plant grow strong and beautiful. After you have planted, mulch the azalea with pine bark or pecan hulls.

When pruning the plants, try to prune as soon as possible after the blooms have faded. Azaleas are particular in the fact that they prepare next springs blooms in August. Be sure to not prune after this time, or you will have very little blooms for the next spring.

To propagate azaleas, break off new growth and place in damp peat moss until roots start to grow. You can also take one of the lower branches that has new growth and cover it with peat moss. Keep the new growth wet while roots are forming. Azaleas can be separated after growing for a year or two and you can divide and plant where ever you wish.

Azaleas are such a lovely spring time plant. They can be found just about everywhere in the south eastern United States and never fail to deliver stunning color and beauty. They announce loudly and boldly that springtime is coming!

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