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Show Azaleas versatility enhance landscapes shrub so that water will be contained con-tained rather than run off. Finally, Final-ly, place a landscape fabric around the plant and cover the fabric with a decorative mulch. Together, the fabric and mulch will help retain moisture and retard weeds. Watering is particularly important im-portant during the first year after a shrub has been planted, and is also essential when the azaleas are flowering. "Deadheading' the process of pulling off browning blossoms, stimulates new growth on young plants. The glorious rewards of a little effort certainly make azaleas the shrub to plant this season. The versatility of azaleas allows the imaginative homeowner to design a bright, vibrant and long-lasting landscape. land-scape. Some azaleas grow under one foot tall and are perfect as ground covers or in the empty crevices of a rock garden. Larger types provide screening or hedging. Azaleas are often used to vary a landscape's color scheme. Matching a series of azaleas to existing perennials, for example, can create a lovely rainbow effect, one that can be changed each year by simply adding annuals to the mix. The timing of the bloom can even be controlled, as hybrids are available that burst early, late or right in the middle of the summer season. So, it's possible to coordinate the bloom and choose the desired color, among them white, pink, lavender, violet, crimson and cool cream. Some azalea hydrids also come in unique hot yellow and orange, or-ange, as well as deep red. Expert hybridizers continually continual-ly create new color shades for these funnel-shaped blooms. Even better, environmentally concerned lawn and garden manufacturers now produce organic fertilizers that help shrubs thrive naturally by providing pro-viding the nourishment and acidity they require. When selecting the planting site, remember that azaleas need protection from the wrath of midday heat. Do not plant them on the south or west side of the house unless the area is partially shaded. Once the decision has been made as to the size, color and layout of the azaleas, it 's easy to plant them because all types enjoy en-joy the same growing conditions. condi-tions. These acid-loving shrubs crave soil rich in organic matter, with ample drainage and moisture, as well as loose texture tex-ture to allow for air circulation and root growth. Mix garden soil thoroughly with compost and sphagnum peat moss, which will lighten heavy clay soils, and add organic matter to sandy soils. Holes are a snap to dig, as azaleas are shallow -rooted plants. In fact, the top of the root ball needs to be exposed or the shrub will provide leaves but no flowers. It is necessary, however, to make the hole twice as wide as it is deep and to gently break up the soil around the root ball in order to permit the roots to stretch out and grow. Once the shrub is sitting upright in its hole, with the top of the root ball level with the ground, backfill with the amended soil and tap firm. Then, water thoroughly with a hose to eliminate any air pockets. Make a well around the I ' - - - 4fe Ctf -v I 4 - - i I v " " r . , 1 j Visitors check out the greenery in a greenhouse at the University of Utah botanical gardens in Farmington. |