Red Ruffles Evergreen Azalea

Planting Instructions

If soil in container is dry, water plants prior to planting. Dig a hole at least twice the diameter of the root ball and 1.5 times deeper. Mix fertilizer or compost into the soil and return a few inches of soil mixture to the planting hole. Remove the plant from the container and gently tease out the roots on the surface of the root ball. Plant with the top of the root ball at ground level. Back-fill around the root ball with the rest of the soil mixture, gently firming it in as you go, and build a short berm of soil around the plant to create a watering basin. Water the plant thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. Keep new plants well-watered the first summer, checking for water needs daily or every other day. Covering the root ball and area around the plant with 1-3 inches of mulch will help keep roots cool and conserve moisture. Keep mulch from touching tree trunks and plant stems.

General Care Description

Thrives in humus-rich, acidic, moist, well-drained soils. Shelter from harsh sun exposures in hot summer areas. Water deeply, regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system; once established, maintain evenly moist soil. Keep roots cool with a layer of mulch. Feed with an acid fertilizer after bloom. Pruning time: spring after flowering.