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Martha Stewart Shares Her Best Tips For Planting Azaleas
By KRISTY BOWEN
The azalea is a flowering bush that blooms in various vibrant colors and grows easily in any climate. And it is a personal favorite of home and garden guru Martha Stewart.
On her blog, Stewart revealed that one of the best ways to get beautiful azaleas is to start with a careful selection of bushes from your local home store or nursery.
Her advice is to look for plants that are sturdy, with good root systems and vigorous branching, making sure that there are no signs of damage from pests or disease.
When it comes time to plant them, she recommends putting them in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter, and away from direct sunlight to keep them from drying out.
Stewart is shown in a recent TikTok pouring Miracle Gro's Miracid mix, a fertilizer with a strong balance of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, on the azalea plant.
Fertilizer is key for azaleas to bloom as brightly as possible. They need a precise ratio of 30-10-10: 30% nitrogen, 10% potassium, and 10% phosphorus.
Stewart says to dig a hole slightly larger in diameter than your azalea plant, but only as deep as the root ball. This will allow the surrounding soil to remain loose
and aerated.
Mix fertilizer and water together and pour it in the hole. Place the bush into the hole and douse the bush with fertilizer and water again.
This allows the nutrients to fully access the roots and start the plant off right with all it needs. Finally, fill it in with dirt and mulch and watch it bloom.