When to Transplant an Azalea?

Azaleas are one of the most popular flower plants among the gardeners. They are grown in the gardens as ornamentals as they bloom in stunning flowers. This is a common issue that the favorite plant in the garden is often not in the right spot. You have to move this plant to the right place to make the orientation perfect. 

Do you have an Azalea in the wrong place that needs to be relocated? Don’t worry, we got you back. You can not just take the plant and plant it in some other place whenever you want. There is a specific time and process of doing it. Here, we will provide a step-by-step guide to when to transplant an azalea and how to do it.

When to Transplant an Azalea?

Timing is crucial for transplanting an azalea plant. Transplanting an azalea at the wrong time or season can be fatal. We command transplanting in cold seasons, like early in the springtime. The root needs time to get established before the summer heat. Therefore, if you need to transplant the shrub in hot seasons, go for vary late summer to late fall. The perfect time to relocate a shrub is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It is best to transplant deciduous Azaleas when they are in their dormant period.

Remember, do not transplant azaleas or any other shrubs in hot and extended dry times.

How to Prune Roots of Azalea?

Pruning the roots of Azalea before moving is the most important thing you can do to ensure the success of your transplant process. But if you are careful enough, you can do it without pruning roots. Root pruning will help your Azalea recover faster after transplanting.

To prune roots before moving, dig a donut-shaped trench around the plant. It should be 8-12 inches out from the plant’s trunk. Doing this will cut down all the outgrown and shallow roots of your plant. The width of the trench will be around 6 inches, and the depth of one foot will do the work. Then, fill the trench back again with loosened soil. Soon, new roots will start to grow in the soil of the trench. Most of the roots of an Azalea plant are shallow and don’t go very deep.

When to Transplant an Azalea?

If you prune your Azalea, the ideal time for transplanting is after a year or so. When your plant is ready to be transplanted, prune one-third of the top back.

Then, dig a new hole for the plant. Free the plant, slicing a circle of 12-18 inches deep just outside the original trench. If you don’t prune the roots, the circle will be about 10 inches from the plant trunk. Water the soil to make it soft and moist. Use a shovel to push up the plant from the ground. Keep as much soil connected to the roots as possible. The new roots will die if they are dry, so of course, keep the soil moist. Use a tarp to wrap the soil and rootball from the sides and under. Until you transplant the shrub, keep it in a shaded place and continuously keep the soil and rootball moist.

The new hole for the plant should be 1-2 feet wide and of the same depth. Never put fertilizer in the hole because it can damage the new and tender Azalea roots. Slide the azalea plant into the new hole and refill the hole with native soil. Take little breaks in the process to water the soil to keep it moist and to ensure that there are no air pockets.

You can also prune the leaves of the plant by ⅓ to encourage growth when it is transplanted in a new location.

What is the Task After Transplanting?

You have to water thoroughly to let the soil settle around the roots. Cover the ground around the trunk with organic mulches with 3-6 inches depth. Keep the mulch an inch or two away from the trunk. Using hay, straw, dry leaves, or rotted compost is a great idea. Don’t use mulch that has a basic pH because Azaleas love acidic soil.

Water the Azalea regularly after newly planted. It is essential to water the plant daily for at least two weeks after transplanting to keep the plant healthy.

After that, water the plant thoroughly once a week when the soil is almost, but not fully dry. Do not keep the soil around the roots constantly wet. It will block oxygen from entering and result in root rot. The transplanted Azaleas are more vulnerable to dehydration and diseases. Therefore, keep a careful watch over the newly transplanted Azaleas.

Final Thoughts

Transplanting an Azalea is not a very complicated task. There are just some key points that you have to look after, like soil moister, temperature, season, and mulch. If you don’t have any previous experience of transplanting a shrub then you have to be extra careful. 

Follow the steps described above and remember to double check all the key factors that put your plant at risk. If you follow the process, you can successfully transplant your plant without any problem.

FAQs

How Often Do You Water an Azalea Transplant?

Water the plant every 2-3 days deeply. The break between watering will partially dry out the surrounding areas of the roots. It will encourage the roots to go deeper for water.

When Can You Move an Azalea?

Autumn is the perfect season to transplant an Azalea from the garden. October to March will be the best time.

When to Repot Azalea?

Azaleas have to repotting seasons. One is at the end of winter, right before the growth period of spring comes. The second is late in the spring after the flower blooming time is complete.

How Can I Make My Azaleas Grow Faster?

Providing the ideal condition is the best thing to do for the fast growth of Azaleas. Temperature, soil fertility, pH, and the amount of fertilizer applied are some of the key factors.