AusBonsai

I would like to receive some advice about when is the right time to dig up an azalea from the garden. And what would be the correct procedure to minimise the risk of loss.

I always re-pot mine immediately after flowering has ceased That is about now over here. Your equivalent would presumeably be late December. This must be an okay time for lifting them too in theory.

I have dug a few, and if you can get them after flowering is best.
If time does not allow, then they can be lifted anytime so long you get as much root as you can, and protect them when you do

Ken

Should you do some harsh pruning when you lift them too?

I cut back hard on the foliage and branching but kept enough to have some styling options. Trimmed the roots, soaked the tree for several hours in SeaSol and then planted it and kept it in semi shade for several weeks, moving it to more sun. I dug up a very old plant and had no problems and it did not have a lot of roots when I potted it up.

Good luck.

MelaQuin wrote:I cut back hard on the foliage and branching but kept enough to have some styling options. Trimmed the roots, soaked the tree for several hours in SeaSol and then planted it and kept it in semi shade for several weeks, moving it to more sun. I dug up a very old plant and had no problems and it did not have a lot of roots when I potted it up.

Good luck.

i was just wondering may i see some pics i just dug up 2 large ones

azeleas seem to have a very shallow root mass so it would be easy.

i dug out one still flowering and trimmed off dead and big roots and put hormone gel on all the cuts and potted it and left in shade new growth has sprouted up all over 2 weeks later

im no master but it worked for me

Frankly, if you have the opportunity to get a decent garden grown azalea grab it when you can. If it is in full flower simply remove all the flowers and a lot of the foliage - which you would probably do anyway. There is always the chance that what you are after is 'delicate' but if your aftercare is good you should stand a very good chance of success.

MelaQuin wrote:Frankly, if you have the opportunity to get a decent garden grown azalea grab it when you can. If it is in full flower simply remove all the flowers and a lot of the foliage - which you would probably do anyway. There is always the chance that what you are after is 'delicate' but if your aftercare is good you should stand a very good chance of success.

My bold.. I have this opportunity right now, the start of Winter too. Thanks for the advice, MelaQuin.

Nice advices everyone. And yes. Grab it anytime if you have the opportunity and if it's not from your own garden. It is easier than you may think or I've thought. I did one recently:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4210&hilit=+chance+of+survival

Also remember to wash off as much of the garden soil as possible before you pot it up.
Craig

Lots of good tips. Thanks. I think I get the basic process: wait till after flowering > root prune > full wash of rootball > a soak in seasol > foliage prune > shade-before-sun-post-potting. A further question: Many of the azaleas here in the Outer East of Melbourne have flowered for a second time this year. What I'd be curious to know from azalea experts is whether this process alters and in what degrees for a spring vs. autumn flowering. Also is the process the same (or is there a recommended/favored time) for pot-to-pot repotting versus ground-to-pot potting?....or maybe it's all the same regardless of prior medium? Just curious so as to stack the odds in my favour.