What’s the Best Mulch for Azaleas?

doubtfulness : What is the just mulch to use on azaleas ? I ’m growing them for the first tim this class , and I ’m not certain what to habituate . — Ruth S.

ANSWER : The unspoilt mulch to use on azalea will depend on a few unlike factor , such as what your land is like and where you live on . We ’ve researched to find out what various expert suggest and have pile up a list of the best mulches for azaleas here . Keep learn to find out what mulch are unspoiled for different environments and character of soil . As you ’ll find out , organic stuff are the hand - down most ofttimes recommended mulches for azaleas .

Dried Chopped Leaves

you may use dried foliage that you ’ve collected from your own yard or purchase dry foliage mulch , such as dried chopped oak tree leaves . This mulch works well to keep weeds at true laurel , poise out the temperature of the soil , and assist the soil retain moisture . Using a dry chopped leaf mulch will also modify the pH level of the stain , slightly increasing its acidity . This make dried chopped leaf mulches a good pick for soil that is n’t quite acidic enough for azaleas or billet where you want to increase moisture retention or protect the soil against uttermost temperature changes .

Some expert commend using a mixture of dry chopped leaves and well molder compost on azalea President George W. Bush . This works especially well ingardens that have sandy soil , as thecompostwill go the extra mile to help increase wet keeping in the grime .

Pine Bark Nuggets/Hardwood Bark

Using topically sourced mulch materials is always commend , and in country where lumber of pine tree is far-flung , it will be loose to find pine bark nugget to employ as mulch for azaleas . Other domain can buy hardwood bark for use in mulch at the garden center or nursery . As the barque split up down , it will append a bit of sour to the filth , have barque mulch a unspoiled scene wherever the soil needs to be made more acid to keep azalea do well .

Pine Needles

Pine phonograph needle are also sell under the name pine husk . They work well to keep moisture in the soil for longer catamenia of time and also provide a buffer against extreme temperature changes . likewise to other type of dry out chop leaves , using pine needles will slightly alter the pH levels of your dirt to increase sour . Choosing pine needles is smart where you are having trouble keeping ground moist or wherever you demand to protect against temperature modification . Pine needles are also a practiced option when the soil is a bit too alkaline to keep azalea happy .

Tips for Mulching Azaleas

The most important reasons for mulching your garden are to increase moisture retention in the soil and provide some protective covering against extreme temperature changes . However , mulch for azalea can also be used to fine-tune the pH degree of your garden ’s soil and make it more acidic so it ’s the perfect environment for your azaleas . If you choose dried shredded leaves , pine needles , pine barque nugget , or other hardwood bark and also come after these tip , you may be confident that your azaleas will grow healthy and hard .