
AZALEAS 
Azaleas are not difficult to grow, and re- 
quire very little attention, if proper care is 
taken to see that they are planted in con- 
genial surroundings. All azaleas must be 
planted in an acid, well-drained soil. Kurume 
azaleas will not survive water standing on 
the ground around them. Indica azaleas will 
stand poor drainage better than Kurumes, 
but it is not to their liking. They will prosper 
either in partial shade or in the full sun, 
provided the roots are not allowed to be 
damaged by heat during the hot weather. 
This can be avoided by a mulch of oak leaves 
or pine straw. It is not good for azaleas to 
bank them with leaf mold or to put a high 
bank of leaves or straw around them. If the 
dirt or mound is built up around the plant, 
the roots grow to the surface and become ex- 
posed to the sun, which causes serious dam- 
age in dry spells. Furthermore, if there is 
a mound built up around the stem of the 
plant this will cause water to drain away 
from the plant during dry weather, when 
moisture is necessary. All azaleas like plenty 
of water, provided the drainage is good. 
As azalea roots are very fine and require 
a large amount of moisture, the plants do not 
thrive in close proximity to trees that have 
surface roots, such as pecan trees, water oaks, 
and hickory trees. However, they will do 
well near such trees if they are constantly 
watered during dry weather. 
The Indica azaleas stand much. more heat 
than the Kurume azaleas. They are native 
to the deep South, while the Kurume azaleas 
do much better in colder climates. 
We have found the safest all round fer- 
tilizer for azaleas to be cotton seed meal. It 
should be scattered on the top of the ground 
around the plant and allowed to wash in the 
soil, without being cultivated. Azaleas may 
be fertilized with commercial fertilizers 
having an acid reaction, but it is very neces- 
sary to use great care, because most of the 
roots are near the surface, and are easily 
burned. 
A spray consisting of one gallon of water, 
three level tablespoons of Volck, or other 
white oil emulsion, two level tablespoons 
of Derris powder, and one teaspoon of Black 
sal fae 
