RHODODENDRONS AND AZALEAS REQUIRE ACIDIC SOIL
- If the pH of the soil in which your rhododendron or azaleas are planted, is not optimal, the plants will not be able to absorb nutrients (Scott, 2010).
- John Hart, a soil scientist, indicates that gardeners should aim to acidify their soil (after testing it to ensure that it needs acidifying) during either early spring, or winter; when the weather is wet, and temperatures are allow (Scott, 2010).
- A half a cup of Elemental Sulphur, phosphoric acid, or sulphuric acid (pick only one of these), should be added to the soil around the plants. This is done by digging four holes that are one foot deep, around the plant, and dividing the acidic material into 4 equal parts, and pouring them into each hole each (Scott, 2010).
- If the plant is a shrub, the holes will be dug in a circle one foot away from the shrub’s trunk. If the plant is small tree, two feet; for medium sized trees, three feet. If the tree is large, then dig the holes right inside the drip line (Scott, 2010).
- Hart indicates that one should wait until the upcoming spring or summer to see and measure how the plants’ in question respond.
- Acidifying the soil is an effective measure to combat iron deficiency (Scott, 2010).
REFERENCE
Scott, J. (2010, July, 30).Rhododendrons and Azaleas Need Strong Acidic Soil.
[Article]. Retrieved from:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/rhododendrons-and-azaleas-
need-strong-acidic-soil
