Don't Ignore Your Azaleas This Fall - How To Ensure They'll Thrive Until Spring

Azaleas (Rhododendron) can be a true joy in the fall. Many will bloom around this time, showing off vibrant hues of yellow, orange, red, white, and lavender. Deciduous azaleas drop their leaves in the fall, while others have foliage that takes on a reddish tinge just as the leaves of many trees are turning yellow and orange. This colorful display seems to say, "Pay attention to us! We need care to keep putting on a show in the spring."

To answer the call, you'll want to give your azaleas some autumn love in the form of mulching and watering while avoiding fertilizer.Azaleas need virtually no fertilizer to begin with and never after July 1. Fertilizer promotes growth, meaning vulnerable, new fall growth is subject to freezing and dying in the winter. Further, azaleas fertilized too late in the season may not enter dormancy when they should, resulting in damaged tissue or even death.

Due to their shallow roots, azaleas need mulch year-round to retain moisture and protect plants in the winter. Late fall is a good time to refresh the mulch treatment. Mulch is also important for providing nutrients since azaleas need minimal fertilizer. While other organic mulches are acceptable, it's best to use pine straw when mulching your azaleas. Pine straw's advantage lies in its perfect mineral composition, which doesn't create a soil imbalance as it decomposes. The needles' tendency to criss-cross and weave together also helps with soil erosion. Gardeners concerned that pine straw will acidify the soil and harm plants should know that myth has been debunked. With that in mind, apply 2 to 4 inches of pine straw or other organic mulch in the fall. In summer and fall, ensure mulch is not piled too thickly, nor touching stems, to help azaleas prepare for winter cold.

You'll also want to dial in your azaleas' watering in the fall. They may need more water this time of year since rainfall tapers off, so give them a moderate watering following a dry spell. Overwatering is one of the most crucial garden mistakes to avoid when growing azaleas, and your shrub's foliage will wilt if its roots become waterlogged. Give them a final fall watering around Thanksgiving.

Among the types of azaleas you can grow in your garden are varieties of spring-blooming, fall-blooming, and twice-blooming plants. There's even a winter hardy variety of azalea that will bring color to your spring garden called 'Northern Lights.' Depending on where you live, it's possible to stagger your planting for staggered bloom times, ensuring you have azalea blooms from February to September. Bottom line: You can enjoy your fall-blooming azaleas while preparing your spring-blooming shrubs to thrive come next spring.