So, you want to know the best fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons? I will show you the big three to look for and give you a better understanding of how to pick the perfect one for your plants.

I’m about to give you the best fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons. We’ll discuss in detail which other plants should never be fertilized and what the signs of nutrient burn are. You’ll also learn how to check your soil’s pH and why it is important to keep it in the right range. If you love gardening, this article will help you greatly.

Not only azaleas and rhododendrons but there are a lot of plants that are not too winter hardy so we need to take care of them right by providing them with the best nutrient. Fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons should be applied at the end of the summer season when dormancy occurs. These kinds of plants are very picky about their nutrition, which makes it crucial for you to determine what kind of fertilizer you want to use for them. There are so many options out there, which can make it hard for you to choose the one that suits your plants best. So here’s how to choose the best fertilizers for your azaleas and rhododendrons.

Best fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons

Introduction

Azaleas and rhododendrons are the most spectacular spring-flowering shrubs. They are popular in the northern United States and Canada because they are well adapted to cold winters. Growing azaleas and rhododendrons is easy, but like all plants, they need fertilizing to keep them vigorous. Here is a list of some good fertilizers for azaleas/rhododendrons:

Garden fertilizer

Garden fertilizer is a good all-purpose fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons, but it may not be the best option. Garden fertilizer has a high nitrogen content that’s used to feed the plant during its vegetative stage. This means that garden fertilizer should be used in early spring when azaleas and rhododendrons are just beginning to grow new leaves after their dormant period. It can be used anytime throughout the season, but it shouldn’t be applied later than mid-spring because azaleas and rhododendrons begin putting on new growth as temperatures rise in spring.

Garden fertilizers are great at nourishing plants that prefer higher pH levels (above 7) such as blueberries and hydrangeas, but they aren’t ideal for acid-loving plants like azaleas and rhododendrons because they have lower pH levels than what garden fertilizers offer (typically around 6).

Bag of Holly-Tone fertilizer

• Apply the fertilizer every year.
• Fertilizers should be applied to the soil, not spread around the leaves.
• The fertilizer is made of urea and ammonium nitrate.
• The recommended application rate for this product is 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet of soil surface area.
• This product is called Holly-Tone® Azalea & Rhododendron Fertilizer with Urea & Ammonium Nitrate by Holly-Tone®, Inc., 1-800-722-4164 (M-F 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.). It can be used on azaleas and rhododendrons but not hydrangeas or camellias as they are acid loving plants and will burn if you apply too much nitrogen to them.

Liquid azalea food

Liquid fertilizer is a great option for azaleas and rhododendrons. Liquid fertilizers are easy to apply, mix and store, as well as use on your plants. You can find a wide variety of liquid fertilizers at any garden center or home improvement store.

So what exactly is liquid fertilizer? Liquid fertilizers are made up of water-soluble nutrients that are absorbed by the roots directly through the soil rather than having to travel through the leaves first like traditional granular fertilizers do (more on this later).

Sodium silicate

Sodium silicate is a liquid fertilizer that can be applied to azaleas, rhododendrons and other plants. It’s also effective as a soil conditioner.

Sodium silicate contains more silicon than nitrogen and potassium, so it’s not readily available to plants unless there are large amounts of rainfall or irrigation. If you want to improve your soil with sodium silicate, mix it into the top 5 inches of your garden bed before planting your azalea or rhododendron. The root system will absorb the nutrients over time while they’re still in the ground, but wait until after the first bloom before adding any additional fertilizer.

Epsom Salt Fertilizer for Azaleas and Rhododendrons Recipe

If you want to give your azaleas and rhododendrons the best possible chance of thriving, it’s important to fertilize them properly. This can be a challenge because many fertilizers are not good choices for azaleas and rhododendrons. If you use too much fertilizer, for example, this can cause root burn and damage your plants’ leaves.

So what kind of plant food should you use? Epsom salt is a great option because it contains magnesium—a mineral that helps plants grow strong roots—and sulfur—an essential nutrient for leafy growth. Here’s how to make an Epsom salt fertilizer mix:

• Stir together 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of Epsom salts with 1 gallon (3.8 liters) water in a large bucket or container until the salt dissolves completely

The best fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons will have a high acidity level, which can be created by mixing your own fertilizer or buying a pre-made one.

The best fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons will have a high acidity level, which can be created by mixing your own fertilizer or buying a pre-made one.

High acidity is ideal for these plants because it helps prevent leaf damage, encourages new growth and maintains healthy roots. To make an acidic fertilizer on your own:

• Add water to the recommended amount listed on your bag of fertilizer.
• Mix well until fully dissolved or mixed into solution with no lumps or chunks left behind.1

If you’re looking for an easy solution to creating consistent amounts of acidic fertilizer year round: we recommend using our [Acidic Fertilizer Tablets](http://www.gardenersworldshop.com/acidic-fertilizer-tablets). These tablets are already formulated into the proper pH (6) and come in convenient packaging so all you have left to do is add them directly into your watering can when needed!

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you find the best fertilizer for rhododendrons and azaleas. Good luck, and hopefully your plants will be looking great in no time.