Do you like heather plants? This scene is made for you! From April, the still bare branches of the magnolia are covered with dark purple, fragrant tulip flowers! The Japanese azaleas are not long in coming (April-May) to offer the spectacle of their flowering in generous bouquets!
To start well
This scene calls for acidic soil, but will succeed in neutral soil if you follow the directions on planting.
Prefer a sun exposure for the magnolia, and the Japanese azaleas will like the partial shade of this small tree.
The plantation
Open a hole with a volume three times that of the pot, remove the container, soak the root ball well in water and plant the shrub in a mixture of heather soil and potting soil with 25% garden soil (if it is not calcareous). Do not bury the root ball too much, the top should be level with the ground.
The interview
The magnolia requires mulching (pine bark to acidify the soil) at its foot, watering in case of drought, especially for young plants, and possibly adding compost or fertilizer to give it a boost. . The magnolia will flower again discreetly in summer. Pruning is possible to form or rejuvenate the plant and is done after flowering.
Japanese azaleas require acidic mulching , abundant watering during dry periods, and the first year, at least once a week. Add a special fertilizer for heather soil plants during the spring.