Cold Hardy Azaleas Choosing Azaleas For Zone 4 Gardens

If you want zone 4 azalea bushes that stand six to eight feet tall, take a look at Northern Lights F1 hybrid seedlings. These cold hardy azaleas are extremely prolific when it comes to flowers, and, come May, your bushes will be laden with fragrant pink flowers.

What are the hardiest azaleas?

Oftentimes, the blooms are bicolor. The most hardy azalea varieties are in the “Northern Lights” series, introduced by the University of Minnesota in the 1980s. These azaleas are hardy to zone 4.

Are azaleas cold hardy?

Many Azaleas and Rhododendrons are fully cold hardy, however a few of them have frost-resistant flowers. Any flowers blooming before the last spring frost are susceptible to damage.

How do you pick azaleas?

Select azaleas based on mature height and width, not their size when you buy them. Bloom time. Azaleas are famous for springtime beauty, but they come in early, mid- or late-flowering varieties. Reblooming types flower in spring and again in fall.

How cold is too cold for azaleas?

Just watch the weather report and cover the azalea if temperatures drop below 25 degrees F. (-3 C.), especially if the drop in temperature is sudden or the plant is young. Icy winds and excess sun can damage evergreen azaleas in winter.

Can azaleas survive a freeze?

Some gardeners cover azaleas, especially when in bloom, during a hard freeze. The plants will survive covered or not, but frost will ruin any flowers. May suffer damage to tops during a freeze but will return from the roots in spring.

Can azaleas tolerate full sun?

Azaleas do well in full sun or part shade (about four hours of sun). Planted in full sun, azaleas will be more compact and floriferous. ... Windy sites are problematic: in winter, winds and sun can desiccate the foliage, of evergreen azaleas especially. Deciduous azaleas are more forgiving.

Do Azalea come back every year?

Do azaleas grow back every year? The Encore series of azaleas grows back every year in the fall and spring. Other series' of azaleas do not grow back every year, unless you prune them before mid-summer.

Does azaleas die in winter?

Although it occurs in winter, branch death often doesn't appear until warm weather arrives. Cold-damaged azaleas will show numerous splits and cracks in the bark and even peeling bark. These symptoms are often sectional as well, with some parts staying green and some dying.

Should I cover my azaleas in winter?

Cover or Drape:

Drape material to protect plants from severe weather. When heavy snowfall or icing is predicted, provide additional protection by driving stakes into the ground around the plants and draping material over the stakes. Choose burlap or any cloth material so the azalea receives air flow.

Do azaleas like coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.

How do you keep azaleas blooming?

How Do I Get Azaleas To Produce More Blooms

Ensure the plants are getting enough sunlight.
Deadhead spent blooms each year.
Fertilize after blooming using a balanced fertilizer.
Apply a layer of mulch and provide sufficient moisture to the plants.
Protect the plants during harsh winters.

Is Epsom salt good for azaleas?

Many seasoned gardeners simply toss a handful of Epsom salts around the bases of azaleas or other shrubs. ... The National Gardening Association recommends applying Epsom salts mixed in water as a foliar spray for best results.

What month do you plant azaleas?

Planting Azaleas

The best time to plant azaleas is in spring and fall.
Plant them in a sunny spot that gets a good amount of afternoon shade.
When planting azaleas, fill the hole with a 50/50 blend of existing soil and Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Trees & Shrubs.
Once planted, gently tamp the soil and water thoroughly.

What temperature can azaleas tolerate?

Certain rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas can survive temperatures as low as -35°F (-37°C). It is normal for some rhododendrons to exhibit leaf droop and curl at around 32°F (0°C).; the lower the temperature the tighter the curl. Leaf movement occurs rapidly and it is reversible as temperature warms.

What is the best azalea fertilizer?

If you don't test the soil, select a general, balanced fertilizer such as 15-15-15. The numbers refer to the proportionate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the product. The nutrient your azalea is most likely to need is nitrogen. This also encourages the shrub to grow faster.

How do you take care of azaleas in the winter?

In the garden

Japanese azaleas (Rhododendron obtusum), unlike azaleas sold in flower shops, can spend all winter outdoors. Plant it in heath soil, in a sheltered spot, and mulch the base of it in winter to protect it from freezing.

How many times do azaleas bloom in a year?

Since most azaleas bloom only once a year, for about two weeks, planting several varieties of azaleas allows you to enjoy a profusion of blooms for a longer period, as The Augusta Chronicle notes.

How long does an azalea plant live?

Azalea bushes can live for 50 years with proper care. Azaleas are a subgenus of flowering shrubs that can grow up to 6 feet in height and produce numerous large flowers in colors of pink, purple, red or white. They bloom during the spring and can be deciduous or evergreen, depending on the species.

Do azaleas like lots of water?

Azaleas like to be kept moist, but not soggy. Always water deeply when you do water. ... During the summer, in hot, sunny areas, you may need to water every three or four days. When in doubt, don't water--azaleas can tolerate dry soil much better than soggy soil.

Where is the best place to plant an azalea?

Where to Plant Azaleas. Select a location that has morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light. Hot all-day sun can stress the plants and make them more susceptible to pests. Azaleas also require well-drained, acidic soil.

Can I plant an azalea in the ground?

Growing azaleas in the ground

Azaleas thrive in fertile acidic soil and they are easy to look after once they are established. Give them a generous mulch, between two and four inches deep, each spring to keep the soil moist and the roots cool.