Did you know that what you do to your azalea bushes right after they bloom can play a huge role in just how well they flower next year?
Azaleas are one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs you can grow in your landscape. When they bloom in the spring, their colorful flowers can light up a yard with shades of red, pink, purple, white, and orange. But once that big spring bloom show is over, many gardeners wonder what to do next.
The truth is, what you do in the weeks and months following the bloom is very important. In fact, this short time period plays a major role in how your azaleas will grow, stay healthy, and bloom next year.
The good news? With just a little bit of care after blooming, you can help your azaleas bounce back from flowering and get them ready for an even better flowering show next spring. Here is a look at a few simple steps you need to do for your azaleas after they bloom – including when and how to prune, feed, and maintain them all through the summer and fall.
2 Big Things To Do To Azalea Bushes After They Bloom
Why Pruning Azaleas After Blooming Is So Important
One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make with azaleas is not knowing the right time to prune. Azaleas are a bit different from some other flowering bushes. That’s because they bloom on what is called “old wood.” In simple terms, that means the flower buds that bloom next year are actually formed during the summer and fall of the current year.
So if you wait too long to prune your azaleas, you may accidentally cut off the very buds that will become flowers next spring. That’s why timing is everything when it comes to pruning these shrubs.
The best time to prune azaleas is within the first three to four weeks after they finish blooming in the spring. This gives the plant time to grow new stems and foliage and still have time to develop buds later in the season. Waiting too long can result in few or even no blooms the next year.
You don’t need to do a heavy pruning unless the bush is overgrown or misshapen. Most azaleas benefit from light shaping to clean up the overall appearance of the shrub. Simply snip back long branches, thin out crowded areas, and cut away any dead or damaged wood. Always use clean, sharp pruners to make clean cuts.
If your azaleas are older and have become too large, you can prune them back more heavily after blooming. But keep in mind that a very heavy pruning can reduce blooms the following year. The plant will focus more on growing foliage than flowers if it has to regrow a lot of branches.
How To Fertilize Azalea Bushes After They Bloom
Once your azaleas finish blooming and you’ve done any needed pruning, the next step is to feed them. Fertilizing after flowering is one of the best ways to help the plant recover. Blooming takes a lot of energy from the plant, and adding nutrients will help it bounce back with strong, lush growth.
It’s important to use the right kind of fertilizer. Azaleas are acid-loving plants, so choose a fertilizer that is made for these types of bushes. Fertilizers labeled for azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons will all fit the bill. These types of fertilizers have the proper balance of nutrients for azaleas. Affiliate Link: 8-4-8 Acidic Fertilizer for Azaleas, Camellias (Camelia), Hydrangeas.
Apply the fertilizer according to the label instructions. Usually, this will mean spreading a small amount around the base of the plant and watering it in well. Don’t over-fertilize, as too much fertilizer can burn the roots or lead to too much leafy growth instead of flower bud development.
Another great option is to use organic fertilizers such as compost or worm castings. These natural fertilizers feed the soil slowly and improve its structure over time. You can spread a few inches of compost around the base of the bush as a mulch and it will slowly feed the plant each time it rains or you water.
Mulching After Blooming
After pruning and feeding your azaleas, it’s a great time to refresh the mulch around the base of the plant. A good layer of mulch helps keep the roots cool and moist during the heat of summer. It also helps block weeds and slowly improves the soil as it breaks down.
Use natural mulch materials such as shredded bark, pine needles, or compost. Azaleas like slightly acidic soil, and pine needles are a great natural mulch that can help maintain the right pH level.
But to help with this – use fresh green needles, not fallen red ones. Fresh green needles will give off acid. Unfortunately, dead pine needles that have already fallen are closer to neutral when it comes to pH. See our article: The Best Way To Use Pine Needles To Mulch Acid Loving Bushes & Plants.
Spread the mulch about two to three inches thick, but be sure to keep it a few inches away from the trunk of the plant. Piling mulch right up against the trunk can lead to rot.
Summer Care
As summer arrives, azaleas focus their energy on leaf and branch growth. This is also the time when the plant begins to set the buds that will bloom next spring, so keeping it healthy and stress-free is key.
Watering is especially important during hot, dry stretches. Azaleas have shallow root systems and can dry out quickly. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil begin to feel dry. Try to water early in the morning so the plant has moisture during the heat of the day.
Avoid using sprinklers that wet the foliage too much. Azaleas can be prone to fungus and mildew when their leaves stay wet for long periods. A soaker hose or slow trickle from a garden hose at the base of the plant is the best way to water.
Also, do not fertilize azaleas again in mid or late summer. Feeding them too late can cause them to keep putting on new growth instead of preparing for winter. That new growth might not have time to harden off before cold weather hits, and it could be damaged.
Fall Care For Azaleas
As summer winds down and fall approaches, azaleas begin to slow their growth and get ready for winter. This is when next year’s flower buds are forming fully and beginning to harden off.
If your fall weather is dry, continue to water your azaleas occasionally right up until the ground begins to freeze. Keeping the soil slightly moist going into winter can help prevent winter damage. Avoid pruning at this time of year, no matter how tempting it might be. Pruning in fall will remove next year’s flower buds. Even worse, it can cause the plant to try to grow again when it should be going dormant.
Once winter is over – your azalea bushes will be ready to bloom bigger than ever – all because of the great care you gave them after they bloomed this year!
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This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!