Is it too late in the year to plant azaleas?

17 years ago

I live in Indianapolis, IN. Is it too late in the year to be planting azaleas? I figure it would take a couple weeks to order and receive the azaleas I want to plant. I would be getting them in the ground around the 1st of October.

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Comments (3)

rhodyman
17 years ago
Azaleas can be planted anytime. Fall is a good time.

Whether to plant in spring or fall is always a question. Fall is normally the best time because roots on a new plant need help establishing themselves. The shallow root system can't take in all the water it may need to survive and a drought can spell disaster. Do not allow the soil to dry out but make sure they are planted in acidic soil with good drainage.

Mature plants are much hardier and Mother Nature seems to take good care of them under normal conditions. Care for new plants for 2-3 years to help them get established.

One problem with fall planting is that it makes a plant more susceptible to frost heave in climates where freezing and thawing cycles are common. In that case, rhododendrons are best planted in the spring. It must be noted that maintaining the proper moisture level in the summer is very difficult after spring planting.

When buying plants in the fall, it is risky to buy potted plants or balled and burlapped plants that were in a garden center all summer. It is best to buy field grown plants that are freshly dug.

Most rhododendron and azalea plants sold at nurseries and garden centers are sold in containers or have a root-ball that is covered with burlap. These plants have a potentially serious problem when the roots reach the container and start circling inside the pot. They become pot bound or root bound. These roots must be cut so they don't continue to grow and start strangling other roots. Many apparently healthy plants die when the roots start strangling each other. To prevent this, it is necessary to remove the plant from the container and cut the roots from the soil surface to the bottom at several points around the root ball to cut any of these circling roots. When working with roots, make sure the plant is thoroughly watered. Any roots that dry out will die.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to grow azaleas.
orkt_hotmail_com
13 years ago
How about in Connecticut. It's now real late here but I have several potted Azaleas, rhododendrons that I just never got around to planting. Dec 1st is right around the corner. What would be the best way to save them, or plant them now if possible?
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Azaleas can be transplanted any time. However when they are blooming or actively growing, care must be take not to disturb the roots and to give water but not drown. Because the roots grow near the surface, a bed prepared especially for rhododendrons and azaleas need not be more than 12 inches deep; deep planting or too much mulch in the growing season keeps the roots from getting the air they need. In fact, it is a good idea to set rhododendrons about 1 inch higher than they grew at the nursery. Azalea plants may be transplanted in blossom but it is better to transplant them early in spring before they bloom. Make sure that the plant is getting wet. Rhododendron guru Harold Greer noted: "Quite often a plant will get completely dry and then no matter how much water you apply, the rootball will just keep shedding it. The top of the soil may seem wet, and the soil around the plant may even be very wet, but the actual rootball of the plant is bone dry. This is the major reason for failure, or at least less than great success when moving a plant. It is hard to believe that a plant can be within mere inches of a sprinkler that has been running for hours and still be dry, yet it can be SO TRUE!"
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Jessica, it's hard to say without seeing it or a picture, but it sounds like your new plant has dried out. What kind of water has it been getting, and if root bound when taken out of the pot to plant (many are), did you loosen up the rootball to allow roots to begin to establish out into the surrounding soil? It's possible with a tightly rootbound container grown plant to water, only to be moistening the surrounding soil and not the tight rootball itself. Planting too deep can lead to decline too, the azaleas surface roots can't function deeply planted. If it has dropped its leaves, looks dried up, you have nothing to lose - lift it out and check the rootball. Let us know what you find. (Miracle Gro didn't cause the problem, but it didn't help either, you aren't describing a problem with nutrients/fertility. They need little in the way of fertilizer if any at all when grown in soil of average fertility and the correct ph. If you must fertilize, possibly look for HollyTone by Espoma....a better choice. But again, fertilizer isn't your issue, don't fertilize a stressed-for-other-reasons plant.)
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If you have any deciduous trees around your house I think you can let them be your guide, when most of them have started leafing out from their leaf buds its probably OK to plant. Most years I don't think you have to worry about frost after March first, but I do remember one year when it was bitterly cold in March. For myself my clay soil is the determining factor. I always want to do a final rototilling to try to kill any weeds or bermuda grass that is growing where I plan to plant, and with clay the amount of moisture in the soil is very important, too wet and you have a sticky mess that clumps right back down, too dry and the rototiller blades just bounce off it and I have to get my 66 pound electric jackhammer and 14 pound clay spade for a total of 80 pounds to lug around to dig my planting holes. I also live near the bottom of the north west side of a hill so my yard is usually three degrees colder than the official weather report as the cold air pools in my yard, plus sunrise comes later because of trees above blocking the light from the east.
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Planting azaleas this late?
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Rita, I honestly don't know. But I would think if you followed the planting directions for Azaleas well, and water the plants well until frost, and again during the winter when it does not freeze. I sent you a link from the Tulsa Master Gardeners website. I did read part of it. Here is some: Plant November is a good time to plant spring flowering bulbs. Crocus planted in clusters in the grass will give a beautiful early spring display, just when needed most. Some people like to toss the bulbs out and plant where they fall for a natural display. Pansies are our most reliable blooming plant during the winter. When it gets very cold for a period, pansies will stop blooming, but will bounce right back when a few warm days coax them. Finish dividing perennials early this month.. Divide and replant daylilies as long as the ground is not frozen. Plant amaryllis bulbs now for Christmas bloom. Red and white varieties make a stunning Holiday display. Continue to plant balled and burlapped trees. Refer to "How to Plant a Tree in Clay soil found elsewhere on this web site. Plant garlic early this month. Try to find garlic that has not had a growth inhibitor applied. Moni Here is a link that might be useful: Tulsa Master Gardeners
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rhodyman
13 years ago
Plant them and mulch carefully if the ground is not frozen. You will need to watch them this winter for any frost heave problems. You may also have to water when the ground is not frozen if they get real dry. It is a good idea to protect them from winter wind and winter sun if possible.

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Is it too late in the year to plant azaleas?

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rhodyman

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