When walking through my local supermarket in springtime, I always admired the potted azaleas but never bought them because they are poisonous and could harm my cats. About four years ago, I found a spring special at Hewitt's--Four small shrubs for $20.00. I chose one azalea, two hydrangeas, and one Lemoine Deutzia (never heard of it until that day and happy to report by its third year it reached full size and produces nice white flowers).
I decided to plant one azalea and one hydrangea against the brick wall of the house, just as you come out the back door into the yard. It doesn't get much sun, and this variety of azalea needs partial shade, so I thought it would be a good location. I use special fertilizer to make the soil slightly acidic. The azalea never flourished, but it has had nice healthy foliage and a decent number of blossoms. I was careful not to under or overwater it. The plant has survived the last few winters and I cut it back right after they bloom in the late spring. I've read that pruning after mid-summer cuts off next year's bloom, as most azaleas start growing next year's flower buds soon after they bloom. Late pruning also runs the risk of the tender new growth being killed in cold climates.
Well, this year I can see next year's flower buds. However, the branches are a little too long, with some bare branch showing before the greenery at the end of the branch, probably because I didn't cut them back far enough at the beginning of the summer. I decided to leave them alone, as the plant is healthy. It will be interesting to see what happens in the spring! But first we have to weather the winter, which I'm predicting will be a very cold one.
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