| If it's an evergreen, (indica) go back to where the new wood comes from the old. There are usually plenty of dormant buds in this area. Make your cut about a centimetre into the new wood side and keep any leaves in the area. You'll need to keep it shaded until about May next year, and misted, or covered with a damp light cloth to protect it from water-loss. If it is a deciduous azalea, they do come back from old wood, a bit like several Rhododendrons, but it can take a couple of years after being moved for them to feel settled in enough to do this. They take AGES to re-establish roots beyond the ball you transplanted and need all the mulch, wind protection, and spare water to keep the root ball moist (not wet) you can manage - especially over the summer. If you're transplanting into a shady gully that's reasonably moist/sheltered you can probably skip the fussing. I did the fussing for a 2m mollis in the middle of a dry spell and it lived to both tell the tale and flower cheerfully. The last evergreen I moved was at the beginning of winter, so I didn't need to fuss beyond putting a big rock on the root ball to stop it lifting in the wind. |
