Azalea looking thin

[vette-kid]

Seems Everytime I move into a new house my azaleas start thinking within a few years. Everyone locally says"don't do anything special, water them and trim them when needed". Well, that's all I do! They get a little 8-8-8 once a year, but that's it. Now they are looking thin and this one has some yellowing. Any idea what's going on?

 

[DirtMechanic]

I think a lot of times azalea are lumped with slow growers like boxwood, but if you fertilize lightly but more frequently they respond. Obviously they need at least some actual light, our heavy shade specimens are leggy.

 

[Silentrunning]

Use a fertilizer specifically made for Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Every couple of years prune them back to maintain a nice full shape. Do this immediately after the flowers die and start to fall off.

 

[Meadowlark]

Azaleas need acidic soils and can quickly show signs of iron deficiency or chlorosis as those pictured are appearing to do....but overall I'd say they are fine.

 

[treeguy]

Feed them every year before they leaf out. The composition of the leaves is a reflection of what's present in the soil at that time, and won't change by feeding after the fact. Feeding later feeds the next set of buds, which is fine, but if you want nice leaves, feed just before they leaf out with Miracle Grow or something like it. Feed with granular ferts in autumn so it has time to break down and leach into the soil & litter and become available to the plants. Do both, and you'll see results. Hard trimming of longer shoots back to a leaf cluster immediately after flowering will result in low, dense plants.

 

[vette-kid]

Feed them every year before they leaf out. The composition of the leaves is a reflection of what's present in the soil at that time, and won't change by feeding after the fact. Feeding later feeds the next set of buds, which is fine, but if you want nice leaves, feed just before they leaf out with Miracle Grow or something like it. Feed with granular ferts in autumn so it has time to break down and leach into the soil & litter and become available to the plants. Do both, and you'll see results. Hard trimming of longer shoots back to a leaf cluster immediately after flowering will result in low, dense plants.

They hold leaves year round here. Never have bare bushes. So when would you recommend fertilizing?

 

[vette-kid]

Azaleas need acidic soils and can quickly show signs of iron deficiency or chlorosis as those pictured are appearing to do....but overall I'd say they are fine.

Thanks, I hope they fill out a little better.

 

[Meadowlark]

... So when would you recommend fertilizing?

Right after the blooms are finished.