Azaleas have become one of the most popular flowering shrubs in Georgia. There are many varieties to choose from and many varying in their ability to withstand cold injury to both the plant and flower. Many can withstand very low temperatures in mid winter after they are dormant better than they can a sudden early freeze in the fall or a late freeze in the spring. So when selecting azaleas, remember to choose plant varieties that are adapted to south Georgia and our hardy zone (8b).
A good indication of cold injury to azaleas will be wilting leaves. The leaves may also turn brown and die, especially near the top of the plants. The bark of the branches may split. This is more common during the early freeze in the fall or late freeze in the spring.
You can solve this problem with pruning and an acid-forming azalea fertilizer in the spring. To check to see which branches need pruning, scratch the bark of the affected branch with your fingernails. If the exposed cambium (layer of cells that rapidly divide and produce wood to the inside and inner bark to the outside) is green, then the branch is still alive and may survive. If the cambium is brown or the bark is split, those branches can be pruned. Pruning your azaleas now due to cold injury will not have a significant impact on flowering, growth or cold hardiness.
With spring approaching most people are going to want to enjoy the beauty of their azaleas in the landscape. Next fall and winter, make sure that you apply an ample of water to your azaleas, in the absent of rain, to reduce stress of the plant and therefore minimizing the susceptibility to cold injury.
Photo Credit by James Morgn