Azalea Time

Azaleas are beautiful this time of year. Pictured here is Judge Solomon - a Southern Indian Azalea.  Though this old time azalea only blooms for about one month of the year - the show is spectacular.  Houston's climate is ideal for growing azaleas.  Azaleas like filtered sun or part sun and some shade.  Their roots grow near the surface of the soil so they tend to dry out easily if we go without rainfall for long periods of time.  Plan to water when rainfall is not adequate.  Prune azaleas shortly after blooming as they set flowering buds for next year's display on the tips of the new growth in the spring.  Azaleas like acidic soil so plan to fertilize them with an acidic fertilizer in the spring as soon as they finish blooming.  They can also become quite large so plan for their large size in your landscape or prepare to prune them heavily after blooming in the spring.