How to grow Azaleas

Gardens look magnificent as they come alive for spring and one outstanding display for gardens are Azaleas.

VARIETIES AND POSITIONING
There are many types of Azaleas that will grow from full sun to shaded areas. This gives an excellent range to choose from for almost any area of your garden. Enquire at your local garden centre for the best suited variety for your garden positions. You can even have azaleas in both the sunny and shaded areas of your garden, so long as you choose the right variety for each position.

SOIL
When planting Azaleas, they love an acidic soil rich in organic matter. Improve the soil by digging in Searles Azalea & Camellia Specialty Mix plus add some Searles Azalea & Camellia Plant Food. This will give them a great start with strong healthy growth.

WATERING
Now the real trick to growing beautiful Azaleas is in the watering. Azaleas have shallow surface roots and will flourish with regular watering every 2 - 3 days. Azaleas do not cope very well with extended dry periods, so regular watering will bring on their best growth and magnificent blooms. 

FLOWERING & WATER
When Azaleas flower, they look absolutely spectacular. While they are flowering, avoid watering over the flowers as this can cause petal blight & you will lose their delightful blooms. 

FEEDING
Once Azaleas have finished flowering, give them a light prune & liquid feed with Searles Flourish Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia Plant Food. Searles Flourish Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia Plant Food is a specially developed soluble plant food for Azaleas and other acid loving plants. It gently acidifies the soil, provides essential Iron (Fe) in chelate form and promotes strong growth and brilliant flowering. The trick for excellent flowers in the next season is to start feeding after the last flush of flowers right up to the next flowering season.