Azaleas Made Simple

How and when should I prune them?
Do so immediately after the plants stop flowering in spring. If you wait until summer, you'll remove most of next year's flowers. Use hand pruners, not hedge trimmers. Cut back to a branch or bud, and don't leave big stubs.

How big will azaleas get?
That depends on the type. Low, spreading Satsuki Hybrids, such as 'Gumpo,' grow only a few feet tall. The popular Kurume Hybrids, including 'Coral Bells' and 'Hershey's Red,' form dense shrubs 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Southern Indica Hybrids, such as 'George Lindley Taber,' 'Formosa,' and 'Pride of Mobile,' can grow 8 feet tall and wide. Don't plant these big guys under low windows.

When is the best time to plant azaleas?
Spring and fall, when temperatures are cool, are excellent times. But if you buy in spring when the azaleas are blooming, you'll be assured of getting the colors you want. Summer planting is okay, but you'll have to water frequently during hot weather.

Can I plant one of every color together?
Hey, it's a free country, but we'd rather you didn't. You'll get a much better show by planting a mass of a single hue.