Planting Azaleas in the Houston Landscape

Of the multiple items that work well in a Houston landscape, planting azaleas definitely tops the list. Azaleas provide the heart-stopping beauty that heralds the arrival of spring. At Exterior Worlds, we have long thought that all landscapes benefit from such loveliness.

There are thousands of azalea varieties, with blossom colors that run the spectrum from white to red. (However, even the large garden centers will carry only a fraction of that quantity.) Planting azaleas in a butterfly garden design or shade garden design enhance all the other decisions you’ve made for these styles. Azaleas are a great choice for foundation planting, too. Some bushes grow less than 12 inches in height and provide good mid-range filler in a layered bed or serve as a spreading groundcover, while other varieties grow quite tall and tend to spread with age.

Planting azaleas is a relatively uncomplicated procedure. They prefer good drainage in a slightly acidic soil with partial shade. We advise starting with the planting soil since heavy clay soil, as is found in Houston, benefits from added fibrous material and sand. We recommend a ratio of 1/3 loam (or soil), 1/3 sand, and 1/3 organic matter. In good soil, the hole should be at least a few inches wider than the rootball and as deep as the rootball. Because of this area’s clay content, we position bushes so that the tops of the rootball are several inches above the ground level. We then mound the recommended soil mixture around the rootball. Lastly, we mulch the newly-planted bushes, being careful not to place mulch up the trunks. The last step is to slowly and thoroughly water.

For an additional way to add color to your landscape, planting annuals is a viable option. Seasonal color complements any blooming bushes and trees and adds freshness to the yards. Pots and containers are perfect for annuals since they help define your garden spaces. Small- to large-sized containers can frame a view, create a pathway, or enclose a garden zone.

Masses of blossoms make for garden beds with eye-popping beauty while beds filled with one of this and one of that merely look like a mishmash. When planting azaleas, in general we plant them in groups, to underscore the theory that more is more. At the same time, we are careful to give each plant room to grow. In the spacing of the bushes, we take into account their mature size and shape.

As for garden designs, the ones that express unity are more pleasing, an objective we accomplish by choosing only one or two colors, grouping bushes in series of three or five, and by repeating these groupings across your landscape. This repetition achieves continuity, unity and balance. A residential landscape designer from Exterior Worlds can help you make the best choices for the conditions of your particular property. We understand the Houston topography and natural elements and work hard to incorporate the architecture of your space and your personal style.

In Houston, your garden landscape practically require azalea bushes. Their colors bewitch us. The names alone are lyrical: Pink Cascade, Serenade, Silver Sword, Marvel. Let them work their magic in your gardens.