Use and Care Manual

How to Care for a!!!HARDY GARDENIA AZALEA Shrub
Rhododendron x ‘Hardy Gardenia
SELECT&SITE:!
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! Light!Requirements:!!Part!Sun!=!456!hours!per!day!
! This!shrub!will!grow!larger;!space!36!in.!away!from!other!plants!or!structures.!
Adapts!to!a!wide!range!of!average!garden!soils,!prefers!moist,!well!drained,!acidic!soils.!
Versatile!Plant!for:!!Mass!or!group!in!shrub!border.!Near!the!home!foundation.!!!
Ideal!USDA!Plant!Hardiness!Zones:!!7,8,9!
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PLANT&PREP:!
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Open!box!upon!arrival,!remove!packing!materials!to!let!the!plant!“breathe”.!!Remove!plastic!bag,!
tape,!and!newspaper.!!Water!well.!!There!are!drainage!holes!in!the!bottom!of!the!pot!so!do!this!
outside!where!the!extra!water!will!drain!away.!
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HOLE&PREP:!
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Dig!saucer!shaped!hole.!!The!depth!is!determined!by!measuring!the!height!of!the!roots!from!root!
flare!to!bottom.!!The!width!is!253!times!the!root!ball!diameter.!!!Using!these!calculations,!the!ideal!
hole!for!the!new!bush!will!be!approximately!10”!tall!by!24530”!wide.!
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PLANTING:!
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Put!garden!soil!in!a!wheelbarrow!or!on!a!tarp.!!Mix!the!garden!soil!with!equal!amounts!of!mulch,!
peat!moss,!and!potting!soil.!!Place!plant!in!hole!and!adjust!for!aesthetics.!!Hold!in!place!while!
adding!more!soil,!until!the!hole!is!completely!filled.!!Push!soil!down!until!firm.!!Do!not!plant!the!
shrub!deeper!than!it!has!already!been!growing.!!Water!well!immediately!after!planting.!!Mulch!
evenly!to!a!depth!of!253!inches!being!sure!to!stay!at!least!4”!away!from!its!trunk.!
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FUTURE&MAINTENANCE:!
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Check!soil!weekly!for!moisture.!!Water!thoroughly!when!dry.!!Adequate!water!until!the!ground!
freezes!is!necessary!to!sustain!the!plant!during!winter!!!
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Pruning!is!rarely!needed;!if!desired,!trim!immediately!after!the!heavy!spring!bloom.!!Do!not!
prune!during!winter!as!next!year’s!flowers!will!be!removed.!
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If!desired,!fertilize!in!early!spring!when!new!growth!begins.!!Apply!2!tbsp.!of!a!balanced!!slow!
release!fertilizer!for!acid!loving!plants!upon!the!ground!in!a!band!around!the!plant!at!least!6”!
away!from!its!stem.!!!
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