Soil

• Azaleas grow best in loose, well-drained soil. Heavy, clay-like soil may suffocate the roots and should be mixed with rotted leaves or other organic matter before planting. The plant needs a hole that is a few inches wider and just as deep as the root mass. Unlike the case with other plants, the soil at the bottom of the hole should be firm and undisturbed. This will keep the azalea sitting at ground level; any lower may result in pooled water and root rot. Tamping the soil around the roots will remove air spaces.
  
  

Moisture

• Azaleas prefer moist, but not wet, soil. Mulch around the plant to help retain moisture. Water it slowly and deeply immediately after planting, then again the following day. Once a week watering for a few weeks will help the plant become established. Keeping the soil consistently moist will ensure the foliage grows and flowers bloom. Azaleas also benefit from springtime fertilization. Use a fertilizer made for azaleas, high in acid.
  
  

Pruning

• Pruning will remove old, unproductive branches and make way for new growth. Prune in the early spring before the shrub produces new blooms. While you will be trimming off the current year's flowers, the azalea will regrow and fill out before the end of the season. If you wait until mid-summer or later, you may ruin next year's blooms. The new growth will also not have enough time to mature before winter sets in. Tall branches can become unproductive over time. Removing a few per year will reduce shock to the rest of the plant. Over the course of three years, most of the azalea will be new growth.
  
  

Second Blooming

• Azaleas are perennials in some regions with colder weather, and annuals in warmer climates. You can force them to bloom during the following season, but in locations like Texas, as long as they get five to six weeks of night temperatures between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Warmer weather will cause sparse blooming. If the weather is not conducive, you can move the plants indoors to a cool location.