Learn how to troubleshoot the biggest issues that could be causing your azalea bushes to underperform.
“Azaleas set flower buds the year before,” says Megan McConnell, plant information director at Monrovia.
“Always prune just after flowering to avoid cutting off next season’s blooms.”
Photo:Federica Grassi/Getty Images
“Excess nitrogen promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers,” Lenhart says.
“This often happens when azaleas receive lawn fertilizer runoff.”
“Phosphorus is the main nutrient to help with blooms and root production,” Hogan says.
Another sign that your soil is too alkaline?
Yellow leaves with green veins, Lenhart says.
Weather damaged the plants
Bad weathereven the year beforecould impact yourspring blooms, McConnell says.
“Drought the prior year can kill the buds.
Winter cold can kill the buds, as can not enough cold.
And bud blastunseasonably warm fall weathercan trick the buds into opening too early.”
“These tiny insects cause stippling on leaves, sometimes to the extent that the leaves turn bronze.
Youll find the insects on the bottom side of the leaves.
“Azaleas communicate stress through their leaves,” Lenhart says.
