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Azalea & Rhododendron

What to do about a very leggy azalea

5 years ago

I have discovered several azaleas that were apparently planted around under a norway spruce tree many years ago, which now barely peek out from the edge of the ground sweeping spruce branches. I would like to transplant the azaleas, but they are now three foot trunks with a fringe of leafed out growth at the ends. If I move them to an open area will the trunks fill out with new growth or are they destined to be forever misshapen? They appear to be low, almost prostrate azaleas but it could be due to the conditions to which they've been subjected. Thank you for your advice!

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Comments (4)

akamainegrower
5 years ago
There doesn't seem to be anything to lose by trying to move them next spring. If these are deciduous azaleas, a new full sun location would be fine. Evergreen types would be better with some afternoon shade and protection from winter sun and wind. The main difficulty is likely to be digging them out of ground now filled with spruce roots. Navigating around the spruce branches in order get close to the main trunks of the azaleas may be another problem. Both types of azalea should put out new growth if pruned back and kept watered. The current habit of growing low to the ground may be due to a particular variety of evergreen azalea, but more likely the result of growing toward the strongest source of light.
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kitasei thanked akamainegrower
kitasei
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
They are evergreen. Isn’t now a good time to move them?
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akamainegrower
5 years ago
It is really too late to move them now. Azaleas and rhododendrons are easy to move, but they must stay well watered after they've been relocated if they are to become established in their new location. That's not really possible once winter cold sets in. You're also very likely to be moving them from the protection of the spruce to somewhere more exposed. That's not a good idea when there's no time for them to establish at all. There's also nothing to be gained by moving them now. Growth has largely ended for this season.
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kitasei thanked akamainegrower
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
5 years ago
I will add that azaleas respond very nicely to what is called rejuvenation pruning though I'm not so sure that I would transplant and prune at the same time.

I've pruned azaleas all of the way back to six inch stumps and had them recover to beautiful, full shrubs very quickly.
kitasei thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

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