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3 Azalea problems in Cherokee County, GA that aren’t caused by bugs.

Posted by Christine Crandall on Mar 30, 2019 2:51:32 PM

Georgia State’s wildflower, the beautiful azalea, starts to bloom sometime in late spring, and they are a sight to behold. A stunning variety of colors continues throughout the summer, and a variety of species can be found throughout the state. Despite azaleas being native to Georgia soil, they are susceptible to problems that aren’t caused by people or bugs. Here are three examples of these problems coupled with prevention methods or remedies.

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3 Azalea problems in Cherokee County, GA

1. Leaf Chlorosis

Chlorosis is caused by an insufficient amount of chlorophyll, and this makes leaves lose their color. There are different types of leaf chlorosis to which azaleas are susceptible.

One common example is iron chlorosis, which means the plant is not getting enough iron. This will cause the veins of the leaves to remain dark, but in between will be yellow. To fix this, ferrous sulfate or chelated iron should be applied to the soil. This problem is common in areas with poor drainage or when too much fertilizer has been applied.

2. Leaf Scorch

If you’ve been gardening for a while, then you have probably heard of scorching plants with fertilizer. What this looks like is dried edges on the leaves of the azalea. It can also occur if the plant isn’t getting enough water. It stands to reason that more water is the solution for this problem.

3. Cold Injury

If you have a rough winter, it can really damage azaleas. It may make the leaves brown or even drop off the plant. In bad conditions, the bark can split. If the bark splits on the main trunk, it may be the end of the plant. Otherwise, the plant will probably recover. You can minimize the chance of cold injury by applying a good amount of mulch to the azalea to insulate it from cold conditions.

Azaleas were meant to grow in Georgia soil, but that does not make them invincible. They still need protected from the harsh conditions that occasionally present themselves in the winter. Like most plants, they also need the proper amount of water and nutrients to thrive. Especially if your azalea is a lawn/garden plant, you don’t just want it to survive. You want it to thrive.

You may see azaleas on the side of the freeway in various conditions, and they are beautiful. However, that natural beauty is not likely the same as the paramount beauty you want in your personal landscape. Keep your azaleas at their best by preventing or treating these three common ailments.

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Topics: azalea