Q: What do you need to do to prepare a flower bed to plant azaleas?
A: What kind of azaleas and where are you located? Azaleas are members of the rhododendron family. There are over 900 species and hundreds more natural and man-made varieties. Some are native to swamps and some to dry woodlands. Others are naturally found and grow well in sandy soil near oceans, and some are native to mountainous areas.
The eastern United States has dozens of native species, and many were introduced into garden cultivation almost as soon as the smallest villages were developed. The Gulf and Atlantic states and the Pacific Northwest are the best areas to grow rhododendrons in the States. There are azalea species that are winter hardy to any area of North America where shrubs can grow, but there are many more varieties and flower colors available in warmer climates….