Plant your azalea in early spring or early fall.

If your soil is loose, well drained, and has lots of organic matter, planting will be easy. If drainage is poor, you’ll need to correct the drainage problem or plant in raised beds. You can work in some well-rotted leaf mold or compost if the soil is short of organic matter.

Don’t worry about preparing the soil deeply since azalea roots are shallow and most are found in the top foot of soil. Loosen the soil in a broad area around the planting site.

Water the pot thoroughly before planting and tease the soil away from the roots on the outside of the pot. Don’t worry about injuring the roots as it is more important to remove a large amount of the potting soil than it is to keep every root intact.

Plant the azalea slightly higher than the surrounding soil since it will probably settle after planting. When you are finished, water the whole area thoroughly and apply a thin layer of shredded leaves, pine needles, or pine bark to keep the soil cool and moist. Water your newly planted azalea weekly if the weather is dry, at least for the first year.