Azaleas — Cultural Sugges tions 
Azaleas require about the same conditions and 
care as Camellias. Both thrive in an acid soil 
and like plenty of water, with good drainage. The 
root system of Azaleas is shallow and tends to dry 
out quickly, and they should therefore be watered 
frequently, and a mulch of oak leaves or pine 
straw around them will be very helpful in keep- 
ing the soil moist about the roots. The addition 
of peat moss and leaf mold in the ground where 
they are to be planted is also desirable for the 
retention of moisture and the maintenance of 
acidity. Small-sized Azaleas do best in partial 
shade, but should not be planted in dense or com- 
plete shade. Large plants will stand full sun. We 
cannot stress too greatly the necessity of having 
good drainage. Azaleas will not tolerate a soggy 
soil condition, and care should be taken to see 
that all surplus water drains off quickly. Azaleas 
do not require a great deal of feeding—a light ap- 
plication of cotton seed meal two or three times 
a year should be sufficient, especially if the plants 
are growing in a soil that contains plenty of 
organic matter. 
Almost all the major pests that Azaleas are 
subject to can be controlled by spraying the plants 
two or three times a year with Florida Volck and 
water, at the rate of one gallon of Volck to 50 
gallons of water. The best times to spray in order 
effectively to control these pests and insects are 
in the spring just after the plants bloom, again 
in the latter part of May or early June, and dur- 
ing the last of September or early October, before 
there is danger of frost. It is not desirable to 
spray either Azaleas or Camellias if the plants 
are suffering from lack of moisture, nor in the 
summer in extremely hot weather. 
If your Azaleas appear to have yellowing of 
the leaves during the summer months, they are 
probably suffering from lack of iron, and they 
can be helped a great deal by spraying the foli- 
age with Iron Sulphate and water (1 pound of 
Wet tee 
