Azaleas are winter hardy in every Southern climate and found in just about every garden.
Check your plant tag for information.
If you don’t know whatvariety you have, most azaleas are hardy to Zone 7.
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Certain Encore azaleas and a few others like ‘Gumpo Pink’ can be grown in Zone 6.
Should You Cover Azaleas In Winter?
Most azaleas don’t need to be covered to survive winter in the South.
However, heavy snow and ice can break the thin branches and twigs on azaleas.
This could ruin the shape of your shrub by causing an ugly hole or making it lopsided.
You’ll alsolose the flower budson any branches that break off.
Young, newly planted shrubs may require more protection than well-established ones.
Let the shrub experience a freeze or two first so it can begin to harden off.
If you typically experience severe winters, consider adding 3 or 4 inches.
it’s possible for you to use wood chips, leaves, or pine straw.
Otherwise, check that plants are hydrated before any hard freeze.
Check the soil for moisture if you haven’t had a recent rainfall and water if it’s dry.
Your azaleas will be just fine with the average frost or light snow.
When snow accumulates, just brush off the plants.
You’ll need breathable fabric that is large enough to cover the azaleas and drape down to the ground.
Avoid plastic, which prevents air flow and can overheat in the sun.
Drape the cloth over the shrub or lightly wrap the shrub from the top down to bottom.
Use stakes or heavy bricks and stones to hold it in place.
Once the weather passes, remove the fabric and brush off any snow.
Heavy Snowfall Or Ice
What if you are expecting 6 inches or more of snow?
In this case, draping a cloth directly over your shrubs won’t do much to prevent breakage.
Instead, use tall, heavy-duty stakes like metal fenceposts or strong wood stakes to make a shelter.
Place the stakes firmly in the ground but so that they are taller than the shrub.
Drape a couple of layers of fabric over the stakes and secure it tightly to the ground.
You’ll want to get the weight off the azaleas as soon as possible.
After the weather passes, remove the snow-covered fabric.
If you notice areas that have turned black or brown,wait to prunethe plant for now.
Assess the health of your azalea once new growth begins to appear in spring.
Then you’re able to remove dead branches and twigs and reshape your plant.
Just remember that pruning healthy, green foliage will likely result in losing spring flowers.
Many of thenative azaleasare deciduous and do lose their leaves in winter.
