Azalea help!

[DeathMetalMum]

I have a very sad looking azalea in my front garden, (see pic) a lot of the leaves have turned brown/purple/dark red. I have watered it -occasionally- is there anything else I can do? Several neighbours also have azaleas so soil shouldn't be too much of an issue it think.

[Jux]

I just bought an azalea today. My friend told me that I should feed it - fish blood and bone. I'm not much of a gardener so hope someone who really knows comes along soon.

[shovetheholly]

I am no expert on rhodos/azaleas so I hope someone who is comes by soon. I wonder if it got a bit dry during the winter?

Maybe clear the ground around it and hand fork in a load (and I mean a lot) of ericaceous compost to give it some nutrients and help the soil retain some moisture? And then water regularly. Plants that are near walls sometimes get less water than you might think!

[Ferguson]

Yes - it is certainly telling you that it is not at all happy!

As 'shove' says, get rid of all the weed, and put in ericaceous compost - or even consider digging up, in case something nasty is getting at the roots, dig a big hole and replant in the ericaceous compost.

Ahha - It's TOO NEAR THE PATH!

This is an American site, but explains all:

forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1687411/rhododendrons-and-concrete

[HaveYouSeenHerLately]

Wilko do ericaceous feed and compost for £2 apiece

You dilute a capful of the feed in a watering can of water and feed once or twice a month so it lasts for ages. Good for camellias too.

[PrimroseEverdeen]

Is it planted in the right type of soil? I can't grow Azaelea here unless it's in a pot with ericaecious soil.

[DeathMetalMum]

It should be the right soil as I said numerous neighbours have azaleas in their garden.

Right I have bought some eraicaous compost and feed. Do you think it's worthwhile at least trying to keep it where it is? Or should I move it?

[Moondreamer]

I have an azalea in a pot which went browny red like that. It had got too wet as it wasn't draining properly. It has recovered now I moved it somewhere that it can drain better.

[Jux]

How's the azalea, DMM? Mine's blossomed/bloomed (?when the flowers have opened) and tbh I am disappointed. I thought it was going to be a vibrant colour but it's a weakish salmony pink.

Oh well, I'm glad it's alive and flowering and that I haven't killed it

Hope yours is doing well.

[DeathMetalMum]

We decided to move it yesterday. I had given it a feed or two of eracious feed but it hadn't changed much (dd2 had a d&v bug so didn't get a lot of time). When we dug it up it was still moulded in the same shape from the plant pot it was in - we only bought it last year. So we losened the root bed up a lot and dp dug a huge hole and filled with the eracious compost so we are hoping this helps?? We're pretty novice gardeners as you can tell!

Jux oir neighbours around the corner where I first saw the azalea have two obe is a very vibrant pink the other slightly more slamony but they both look lovely! I bought one for my mum gor her birthday and she hasn't taken hers out of the pot yet and it has very vibrant pink flowers on it I am slightly jealous

[Jux]

I want an electric blue one (but they don't exist )

Fingers crossed for yours. It sounds like it should be happy enough. I used to have a friend (RIP sadly) who was an expert on this genera of plant. He said they sulk for a while when you move them. It's certainly true of most of the things I've planted over the last few years. So it's worth waiting a year or two before giving up on it.

I think you're meant to give them Fishbloodandbone food every year.