Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Planting
I recommend planting Encore Azaleas in sites that provide well-drained, fertile soil. Though Encore Azaleas will tolerate full sun, I like to plant them where they'll receive some shade in the afternoon. Encore Azaleas do not like dense, compacted or consistently wet soils. Because they like acid soil, azaleas are perfect for planting under the canopies of taller pine trees. The needles provide free mulch and also make the soil more acidic.

When planting azaleas in well-drained, loose, fertile soil I usually add just a few handfuls of organic matter or compost to the backfill mix and plant with the top edge of the rootball even with or slightly above ground level.

When planting azaleas in clay or compacted soil, I always dig the planting hole about three times the width of the root ball and add in about 1/3 mushroom compost, or some other form of organic matter, to 2/3 of the native soil removed from the planting hole. If the ground is level, I always plant azaleas with the top edge of the root ball about an inch or so above ground level, then taper the backfill soil mixture from the top edge of the root ball gradually to existing grade. To capture additional water during the first year, I usually use any left over soil to build a water retention ring about an inch or two high around the planting hole.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Pruning
Encore Azaleas require very little pruning to retain good form and do not need "dead-heading." If you think your Encore Azalea needs pruning, do so immediately after the Spring flowering for maximum bud set. Use hand pruners to remove stray branches that spoil the shape of the plant. You can then prune lightly throughout the season after each cycle of blooms to encourage new growth. With Encore Azaleas, any time new growth is produced new buds are produced. New buds means new flowers. After each light pruning, fertilize lightly with a slow-release organic plant food or an azalea/camellia type fertilizer. This will also help to encourage more new growth and more new blooms.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Feeding
I feed Encore Azaleas after each bloom cycle with a mild natural or organic plant food or an azalea/camellia type fertilize containing a micro-nutrient package including iron and/or sulfur to acidify soil and promote deep greening of foliage. Unlike traditional azaleas, which set buds in fall that will bloom in spring, any time new growth is produced on Encore Azaleas new buds and blooms are also produced. So, when fertilized after each bloom phase you can keep Encore Azaleas blooming throughout the warm season.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Problems
Azaleas are known to attract insects, primarily lacebugs and aphids which suck chlorophyll from the leaves. Spraying with a product containing Neem oil, or with Malathion, can eliminate these pests. Rarely, azaleas will develop leaf gall. These are abnormal looking fleshy growth on the leaves caused by environmental conditions or insect stings. Leaf gall will not really harm your plants, they're just unsightly growths. Simply prune affected branches out and discard them. Consistently wet soil can cause problems with the roots so plant azaleas in well-drained, loose, fertile soil - amending soil with organic matter or compost to improve drainage and fertility. During the first year, keep soil damp but do not over-water. When established, azaleas are quite drought tolerant.