How do I plant my Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Shrubs?

When planting your newly purchased Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Shrubs dig a hole twice as wide as the root system but not deeper. Depending on the quality of your existing soil you may need to add locally sourced compost or topsoil to the back-fill soil. We do not recommend using straight topsoil or compost as a back-fill soil because these products will retain too much moisture and cause the root system to rot. A good rule is that you should still see the soil the plant was grown in after back-filling the hole. Plant Encore azaleas in locations that receive at least six hours of sunlight daily. Bio-tone starter fertilizer is a starter fertilizer that provides plants with a mycorrhizal fungus. It is a naturally occurring beneficial fungus that colonizes the new growing roots of plants. It creates a barrier between the roots and fungus and pathogens that can cause root rot.

How do I water Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Shrubs?

After backfilling and lightly compacting the 50/50 mix of existing soil and compost give the Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Shrub a deep watering. Most of the water you put on the plant at first will run away from the plant until the soil is soaked. A general rule of thumb is to count to 5 for every one gallon of pot size. Water using the counting method for the first few weeks. You’ll want to water the bushes regularly after planting until they’ve been well established. Water at the base of the plant near the soil line only. Soaker Hoses can also be used to water when planting a long hedge.

How do I fertilize Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Shrubs?

Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Shrubs grow best if they are fertilized once in the spring. Azalea Autumn Belle Shrubs favors nutrient-rich soil and ample fertilization. Use a balanced fertilizer blended for shrubs such as Espoma Holly Tone. Our ideal fertilizer schedule for azaleas is to apply an early spring fertilizer with a product such as Espoma Tree-tone or Plant-tone will give the plant a boost of nitrogen for healthy abundant foliage. Follow this up with an early summer application of Espoma Holly-Tone, to provide the necessary nutrients and raise the acid level in the soil that Azaleas favor. Espoma products are easy to use; sprinkle around the base of the plant and water it in.

How do I Mulch My Azalea Shrub?

We highly recommend that you mulch your Autumn Azalea Shrubs with either a ground hardwood mulch or a ground cypress mulch depending on your local availability. Any mulch will do cypress or hardwood mulch will be of a higher quality and provide better nutrition overall as they break down. A 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch is sufficient but remember to take care not to cover any part of the stem with mulch. It is better to leave a one-inch gap of space between the mulch and the stem or trunk of the plant. It is also a plant that will respond well to mulching with pine needles (if available in your area). This will help maintain the acidic condition that Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Shrubs thrive.