Azaleas: Martha Shares the Ideal Moment for Planting and Her Methods
Hey There, Green Thumb!
Get ready to dive into the world of azaleas, gorgeous and vibrant spring bloomers! Martha and her crew are getting their hands dirty this planting season, as they recently dropped over a hundred of these beauties around the property. You can bet these babies are in bloom, letting Martha plan her garden design with flair!
Special thanks to White's Nursery in Germantown, Maryland, who delivered a fantastic array of azaleas for the area around Martha's pond. With hues of yellow, cream, and orange, these azaleas will ignite the garden, blending seamlessly with the other perennials and trees to create a breathtaking spectacle when the garden matures.
Sound good? Here's the scoop on growing and caring for azaleas the right way to ensure healthy, beautiful blooms!
First off, Ryan McCallister, Martha's head gardener, carefully placed stunning oranges, yellows, and creams among the spots destined for azaleas. Digging the right-sized hole (two to three times the size of the root ball) is a crucial step in providing proper root development and drainage – master these gardening fundamentals, and you're halfway there!
When you release a plant from its pot, give those roots a good scratch to encourage growth. Pasang Sherpa, Martha's own resident tree arborist, broke up the bottom of each root ball to loosen the roots, speeding the plant's settlement in its new home.
Now, let's talk fertilizer. A handful of it goes into each hole, mixed with the existing soil to boost transplant survival and enhance water and nutrient absorption. Keep in mind that azaleas have short root systems, making them an excellent candidate for spring or early fall transplanting. Depending on their final size, spacing varies, so do some homework to make your plants happy!
Martha's farm features Appalachian Gold azaleas, known for their sweet, sunshine-like scent and bright yellow blooms, Red Pepper azaleas with their deep red buds that pop open into an orange rapture, and the fiery red to deep orange Great Balls of Fire azaleas with their creamy yellow blooms. Sounds like paradise, eh?
Now, let's talk care. These azaleas should be watered daily for a week, later reduced to a weekly soak until the roots are settled. They prefer morning sun and dappled or filtered light to shine on their blooms. Heat can be hard on azaleas, so find a spot with quality shade during those hot afternoons.
So there you have it – research, dig, plant, care, and enjoy immense bouquets of stunning azaleas worthy of any garden. Happy planting!
- Martha Stewart's home garden news features flower gardens with azaleas, boasting vibrant spring blooms.
- The home-and-garden show on Martha's lifestyle program could soon cover the gardening techniques for these stunning azaleas.
- Instead of buying pre-made planters, try creating your own flower garden with azaleas from a home-and-garden store.
- Incorporate azaleas into your garden design to enhance the overall lifestyle and aesthetic value of your home-and-garden space.
