How to Replant an Azalea

QI have an Azalea that has been in the ground for twelve years, and it’s not growing. When I planted it initially, I didn’t disturb the roots. I’ve since learned I should have. Can I now dig it up, spread the roots and replant it in the same

By Buzz Bertolero THE DIRT GARDENER

However, your Azalea is slowly strangling itself, so you need to break the circular pattern of the roots for the plant to survive. The transplanting window is open until late April. This technique is called ‘Root Pruning. Root Pruning is also recommended for container plants such as citrus, Japanese Maples, roses, and other plants that have been growing in the same container for thirty months or longer.

In your case, I’d dig around the plant with a round-nose shovel until you gently lift the root ball out of the ground. It should come out quite quickly as there is should be little rooting into the native soil.

Next, trim away an inch or two of the roots from the sides and bottom of the root ball. With container plants you could remove more of the root ball. Before replanting, soak the root ball in a bucket of water with Liquinox Starter with B1 or a similar product. Liquinox Start with Vitamin B-1 helps promote feeder root growth and reduces transplant shock. If the root ball is wet skip the bucket and water the Azalea with the transplanting solution after the transplanting solution. The new planting hole should be twice as wide as the original root ball and six inches deeper. This is to accommodate the many surface roots. The native soil is amended with organic matter, or you could use one of the prepared planting mixes for shade-loving plants at a 50/50 ratio. Next, center the Azalea in the hole with the top of the root ball onehalf inch above the soil surface. This allows for settling and prevents the plant from being planted too deep, a critical planting mistake many make. Two weeks after transplanting, I’d begin fertilizing with an Azalea, Camellia, and Rhododendron Food and continue feeding it monthly until October.

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