Azaleas have very shallow root systems, so even large azaleas may be successfully transplanted. It is important to dig a wide root ball. Don’t worry about digging deep into the soil since most azalea roots are near the surface. The best time to do this is early spring or early fall when the weather is cool. Begin by preparing the new planting site. Then dig the azalea, preserving a root ball as wide as can be safely moved. You can lift it onto a tarp and then use the tarp to drag the plant to its new location rather than picking it up. Be sure not to plant the azalea too deeply and water it thoroughly after transplanting.

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You can mulch azaleas with shredded leaves, leaf mold, pine needles, or pine bark mulch. Don’t use shredded hardwood mulch since it often drives the pH upward. Pine bark is especially useful since it can lower the pH where it is too high, but it is best used on relatively flat ground since it’s light in weight and tends to float away in heavy rain.
You only need to amend the soil if it is devoid of organic matter or if the pH is too high. Have a soil test done by your local extension service to determine if something needs to be added. A light amount of well-decayed organic matter dug into the top layer of soil is helpful for retaining moisture and preventing compaction.

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It may have simply dried out. If you plant azaleas in late spring, it is very important to give them some extra water while they are growing new roots. Never let the soil completely dry out it’s best to keep the soil evenly moist. Too much water or poorly drained soil might be another explanation of sudden azalea death. Azaleas have very fine, fibrous roots that are easily damaged by waterlogging, even for short periods of time. Before you plant your azalea, dig a hole and fill it with water. If the water has not drained out of the hole within one hour, the soil is poorly drained and you must correct the drainage problem before planting. Install a perforated pipe or drain tile in the garden, making sure that the outlet is lower than the bottom of the planting hole, or build raised beds.

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