Planting Azaleas
Another exciting garden transformation is underway at my Bedford, New York farm.
I decided to make a few changes along one side of the carriage road between my Summer House and my stable. My gardeners and outdoor grounds crew started by planting a group of evergreen shrubs and trees - I shared those photos in a recent blog. Next, I wanted to add some colorful azaleas - pink, orange, crimson and white. I purchased them from Hardscrabble Farms, a family run wholesale nursery here in Westchester County. I already have many azaleas growing and flourishing in this area. I love azaleas. Of all the shrubs that flower in spring, azaleas provide some of the most brilliant displays. And, they can thrive in a wide variety of growing conditions, which makes them useful in so many different landscapes. They will look stunning when in bloom.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the Ericaceae family, which includes blueberries and mountain laurel. They are also all rhododendrons and members of the genus Rhododendron. These azaleas will be added to the gardens outside my Summer House, and near my existing azaleas which get lots of filtered sunlight throughout the day.
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- When buying azaleas, always select plants that are sturdy, well-branched, and free of insect damage or diseases. And, avoid plants with weak, spindling growth and poor root systems. Azaleas are generally healthy, easy to grow plants. Some azaleas bloom as early as March, but most bloom in April and May with blossoms lasting several weeks.
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- The first step is to choose the locations for planting. Here, Ryan strategically places each specimen – keeping like colors together and always keeping the plant’s mature size in mind.
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- Brian carries two more azaleas to their planting locations. It’s also important to keep azaleas where they can be protected from midday and winter sun to prevent leaves from drying out and burning.
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- Azaleas are native to several continents including Asia, Europe, and North America. These plants can live for many years, and they continue to grow their entire lives.
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- Phurba starts by digging the hole at least twice the size of the plant. Azaleas thrive in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
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- Next, Phurba adds a generous handful of good fertilizer.
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- For all of these plants, we’re using M-Roots fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi, which helps transplant survival and increases water and nutrient absorption.
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- Phurba uses a hori hori to scarify the roots of this specimen. A hori hori is a Japanese-inspired tool with a double-edged, rust-resistant blade that’s serrated on one side and sharpened on the other. It is great for cutting through tough roots. Scarifying stimulates root growth. Essentially, Phurba breaks up small portions of the root ball to loosen the roots a bit and create some beneficial injuries. This helps the plant become established more quickly in its new environment.
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- Next, the plant is placed into the hole and then checked to be sure it is at the right depth.
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- We always save the original pots – these pots are very useful for planting other specimens, such as bare-root cuttings.
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- Here, Brian backfills the hole. Azaleas have short root systems, so they can easily be transplanted in early spring or early fall.
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- Brian also makes sure the plant is straight and that the plant’s best side faces out.
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- Here it is all planted – and it has a lot of room to grow and spread. Some azaleas, including native types, can reach towering heights of 20 feet or more. Dwarf azaleas grow two to three feet tall, and many garden azaleas stay four to six feet in height with as wide a spread.
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- The length of azalea leaves ranges from as little as a quarter-inch to more than six inches. Leaves of most azaleas are solid green, with a roughly long football-shape.
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- The leaves are often evergreen with wooly undersides.
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- After each azalea is planted, it is given a good drink. I instructed the crew to leave the tags on for now until all the cultivar names are properly noted. It is always a good idea to keep track of those varieties that do well in the garden.
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- Among the cultivars planted – ‘Girard Fuscia,’ ‘Delaware Valley White,’ ‘Hino Crimson,’ ‘Blaauw’s Pink,’ ‘Stewartsonian,’ ‘Gumpo Pink,’ ‘Hino de Giri,’ ‘Pink and Sweet,’ ‘Tradition,’ ‘Girard’s Pleasant White,’ ‘Gibraltar,’ and ‘Cannon’s Double.’
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- There are still many more azaleas to get into the ground, but I am so pleased with this grouping. As plants are added, there will be less lawn to maintain. Here, one can see my Summer House in the background.
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- Closer to my Summer House is one of my newer azaleas already showing off its bright pink blooms. We planted more than 50 azaleas in this large space beneath my yellow and cream magnolias last year.
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- Many azaleas have two to three-inch flowers and range in a variety of colors from pink to white to purple, red, orange, and yellow. Azalea petal shapes range from narrow to triangular to overlapping rounded petals. They can also be flat, wavy, or ruffled. I am looking forward to showing you my azalea garden when they’re all flowering.
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