Plant Care for your Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Camellias

Plants sent from the nursery contain all that is necessary to keep them looking healthy throughout the autumn and spring season, provided the plants are watered and protected from the extremes of winter. The following tips may be helpful to ensure that the plants always look their best.

Watering
It is most important that this is done correctly. No plant, however healthy, will survive for very long if allowed to dry out. The compost we use is quite free draining, therefore can dry out quite quickly. The compost should be nicely moist. Very dry compost will not readily take up water. Always remember that plants on the outside of the bed need more attention than those in the middle. If odd plants dry out completely, stand them in a bucket of water for a couple of hours, then allow to drain. It is useful to remember that a 7.5 litre pot exposed in hot, windy weather can lose two litres of water per day, but only half a litre in dull weather.

Nutrients
All our stock contains a slow release fertilizer which lasts approximately nine months. A top-up will be required if any stock remains on the garden centre from the end of May. We would advise a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote or Growmore 7-7-7 sprinkled over the compost. As a "rule of thumb" use 5 grams, which equals one teaspoon, per 2 litre pot and two teaspoons for 4 litre pots etc. Alternatively a well balanced liquid feed containing extra iron such as ICI Miracid applied once per month till mid-August.

Winter Protection
Although we grow varieties which are hardy in the Uk for the most winter conditions, a really extreme cold snap with wind could cause some minor leaf damage, if the pots are frozen solid over a period of weeks. The is because a very cold dry wind will try to take the moisture out of the leaves, and the plant is unable to draw up moisture. A good covering of fleece should protect against this. A late spring frost can also cause damage to plants breaking bud. Again fleece will prevent damage 

Pests and Diseases
Plants have been grown to be free of pests and diseases

Azalea Gall. Prevention of this unsightly gall is difficult, but we recommend spraying with Captan or Murphy Traditional Copper Fungicide. Spray before the buds open in early May and again when the young growth begins after flowering. This disease often occurs in very damp and wet periods and can be reduced if they are picked off by hand and destroyed by burning whenever seen.

Aphids. Spray with Bio Flydown, Sybol 2 or Polysect insecticide.

Fungal Disorders. PBI SuAy Systemic Action Fungicide can be used as a preventative against botrytis and other minor leaf disorders.

Important. For specific pest or disease advice, contact your local advisor or our office for recommended sources of information.

Trimming
Japanese Azaleas and Deciduous Azaleas.
Plants still left on the garden centre need trimming after flowering to keep a bushy plant before new growth begins. A good "rule of thumb" is to trim back long branches to majority of smaller branches which do not need trimming.

Rhododendrons.
With large leaved varieties, break out dead flower heads only. No need to trim or prune small leaved Dwarf Rhododendrons.

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