This has been a beautiful year for azaleas in Minden.  Driving around town and looking at all of the color is a great fun.  Some yards have all of the same color and some are all kinds of different colors and sizes.  My favorite are the pinks.  I had one this year that was solid color.  No limbs at all showing.  I believe it was as pretty as have ever been before.  That group of azaleas are very close to the road and have been their for at least 20 years.

 

Right now is a great time to fertilize your azaleas and kill the lace bugs and other insects.  I recommend the Fertilome Systemic Azalea Food.  Systemic means that the plant will soak up the insecticide in the fertilizer.  Chemicals that are systemic are the best to use in my book.  It is really simple to use, no mixing in a heavy sprayer and carrying it around the yard.  And, the chemical is imidacloprid, one of my favorites to use and suggest.  The fertilizer is a 9-15-13.  The newer chemicals and fertilizer are made more with the consumer in mind.  Just 2 ounces are needed for a small plant.  Sprinkle around the roots and walk away.

 

I like Fertilome products because they are an American company that only sells to locally owned stores, not the big box stores.  That makes stores like Minden Farm and Garden kinda special.  We have good products that the big stores don’t have and best of all we can tell you how to use them and what to recommend.

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal.)