These comments make me wonder if azaleas are really shade plants. I remember Mike
Zins at an MG training session showing the "hedge" he had of mature Northern Lights
that were in full sun and at least seven feet tall. All the ones I've seen in my
neighborhood that are doing the best seem to be pretty much in full sun.
I have the same reservation about recommending hydrangea for shade. I grew an
"Annabelle" for years on the east side of my house where it got morning sun. It grew
just fine, but when the balls of flowers developed the branches inevitably sagged
and then collapsed. Yet when I walked around the neighborhood I saw the same plant
growing on the south side of houses in full sun, carrying their blooms high and dry!
I dug up my Annabelle and gave it to a friend at work. She has it in full sun, where
it holds those huge blooms right up in the air.
Comments or insights?
MJ
Henn Cty MG
Grace Anderson wrote:
> Paula!
> I am saying that I "made" my Rosy lights open and oriental on purpose...I
> moved mine from behind full grown yews where they were languishing from the
> landscape having matured around them. I put them in a south east location
> under my mature Northstar cherry, 15 feet tall. They bloomed reasonably
> this first year after the move and have sort of leafed out. I'm giving them
> a shot of Miracid as we speak.
> Grace A
> Hennepin County
>
> > I have recent experience with moving Azaleas. Due to construction planned for
> > this spring, I had to move a small garden at the end of last summer. It was
> > not a time I would have chosen to move things - different plants went to
> > different locations, and there were some losses, but the 2 'Rosy Lights'
> > Azaleas are just fine.
> >
> > They were about 10 years old, and 3-4 feet high, and they had been growing in
> > deep shade. The roots were interesting. They were very shallow and covered
> > an area about half the size of the tops. The only special treatment they
> > received was a little extra wood chip mulch around the base, since they tended
> > to dry out quickly in their new site.
> >
> > I was one of the foolhardy gardeners who stopped watering at the normal time
> > and I was sure these were goners. However, they even bloomed this spring!
> > Now, that's a tough plant. Because they had been in shade, they had developed
> > a lovely open shape, almost oriental looking.
> >
> > Paula Denman
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Paul and Peggy
> > To: Master Gardener List Serve
> > Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 6:31 AM
> > Subject: [Mastgar] Azalea
> >
> >
> > When is the best time to move Azalea's? I have 3 of the Northern Lights
> > variety. After the spring discussion from this group about their needing more
> > sun, I realized mine don't bloom much, if at all, and are in almost total
> > shade. Do they transplant well, or are they best left where they are & buy
> > new ones?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Peggy Palmes
> > Becker County
> >
>
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