evergreen azalea

Water evergreen azalea (Rhododendron 'Martha Hitchcock') deeply and thoroughly once a week, preferably in the morning. Make sure the soil is saturated, as this will encourage the growth of healthy roots. During periods of drought, provide water for your plant more often. When the top 2 inches of soil are dry, it's time to water. Do not allow standing water to accumulate around the root zone as this can cause root rot. Due to their shallow root systems, evergreen azaleas need regular watering all year-round to keep their roots moist.

Evergreen Azalea (Rhododendron 'Martha Hitchcock') needs an abundance of sunlight for optimal growth and blooming. The plant prefers at least 6 hours per day of direct sunlight for best results, but it can tolerate some morning or late afternoon shade. The plant's leaves and blooms may fade if it receives more sunlight than the recommended 6 hours per day. It is important to remember that too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves of the Evergreen Azalea, so it is important to keep an eye on it during hot summer days. For best results, the plant should be planted in a location which gets filtered morning sunlight and afternoon shade.

For evergreen azalea (Rhododendron 'Martha Hitchcock'), pruning should be done twice a year. In early spring, remove any dead or diseased branches; remove any lower branches that are rubbing against each other; shape the plant by selectively removing branches and branches that cross over each other; and, if desired, reduce the size of the plant and encourage more branching and a more open habit. In the fall, immediately after blooming has finished, selectively trim back any overlong or crossing branches and reduce the size of the plant. Deadheading of spent blooms is also recommended. Pruning should be done lightly and selectively to achieve the desired effect. Avoid over-pruning, as this can reduce flowering for the next season.