Plant profile: Azaleas

Azaleas are part of the rhododendron family and you can get them in both evergreen and deciduous varieties. They are beautiful flowering shrubs which can add drama and flair to your garden with spectacular and exotic colour and will come back year after year if looked after properly. The key thing to a great azalea bush is good preparation.

When do you plant them?

Many say that the best time to plant azaleas is in autumn as this will give the plant time to establish itself in preparation for the dryer months of summer. But lots of people pick out the plants in spring so that they can pick and choose colours and enjoy the blooms straight away as opposed to having to wait till spring the following year. In fact, planting azaleas isn't too tricky; with the right type of soil, care and sunlight they'll flourish whenever you plant them.

Is your azalea healthy?

If you're buying an azalea at a time when it's not flowering (azaleas usually flower from late May to early July) a good gardener, or garden centre, will be able to give you advice on the different coloured blooms you can get. When you've picked the sort you want, check the quality of the azalea you're buying to avoid it struggling later on. Healthy azaleas have a wide branch system, green leaves and plenty of buds.

The acid test

Some people are put off by growing azaleas and rhododendrons as they need a slightly more acidic soil than other plants. Adding leaf mulch, peat, sulphur or compost will lower the PH of the soil but if you've got chalky soil, you'll have trouble maintaining that level of acidity. The easier option for gardeners with alkaline beds is to keep the azalea in a pot with the right sort of soil and plenty of drainage.

There are two main ways to check the acidity of your soil. The more traditional way is to plant a hydrangea; if the flowers go blue to lavender in colour, then the soil is more acidic whereas pink flowers indicate a more neutral/alkaline soil. Another way of checking acidity is by using a soil testing kit which you can get from a garden centre; you'll have to take samples from the all different areas of your garden to test and find out which is the most acidic and therefore the most appropriate for your new shrub.

Where do you plant them?

Azaleas like a sheltered spot that receives dappled light and has loose, moist and well-drained soil. If you know that drainage is a problem in your garden's soil, you may need to create a raised bed to ensure that your new shrub flourishes. It's best if you don't plant your azalea next to another shallow-rooted tree such as an ash, elm, poplar or sycamore as your azalea will lose the battle for water and nutrients.

Ready to plant?

Once you've chosen the right spot, take a look at your azalea's roots and if it's become root-bound (when the roots have got tangled inside its container) make a few incisions in the root ball from top to bottom to encourage the roots to grow outwards. It's important to allow as much space as possible both above and below ground as azaleas like to spread out. Water your azalea well and add a top layer of mulch or compost once you've bedded it in and watered it fully. Azaleas love to be kept moist during the growing season so you may have to keep it watered throughout the dryer months although good mulch will retain some of that moisture for you.