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Joanie,
I used to be able to get pine "fines" locally, but they stopped carrying
it. Check this link
for the other names to ask for. It's often used in organic
gardening.
I use only pine mulch because it breaks down at a reasonable rate, I like
the natural color, and our soil is a bit alkaline here, so it helps
acidify. Pine mulch isn't alwaus chunky. Check other sources; some
carry shredded pine bark which is light and fluffy.
Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message -----
From:
J*@aol.com
To: p*@hort.net
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 10:54
AM
Subject: Re: Cardiandra
alternifolia
Hi, Gene:
I've heard pine bark and something like 'pine filings' are great
acidifiers and we can't get either locally, just pine mulch but it's very
chunky.
Now I see why you have raised beds.
I'll check out the native deciduous azaleas....love the idea of being
able to grow them more easily here.
Thanks so much for your input!
Joanie Anderson
In a message dated 6/13/2011 5:54:21 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
genebush@netsurfusa.net writes:
Joanie,
Think I answered some of this in another message. My soil is clay over
limestone and I am on the side of a hill with lots of stone ledges, a cave
is in the middle of my garden. Soil is 6.5 and a touch over on pH. I pretty
much gave up sometime back on digging and amending. Mostly now I build a
raised bed and go up and over the clay. My beds where I have azalea are made
of old potting medium from the nursery, composted pine bark and peat moss.
My preference would be to add some sandy soil and mix, but no such animal
here.
No all azalea demand the low pH... there is a line of breeding from the
Dutch that is bred specifically for all soil pH. Just cannot remember the
name of the line...Chris?? Anyway... I am collecting our native deciduous
azalea and their cultivars, hybrids. Deciduous azalea are much easier to
settle in and grow.
Gene E.
Bush
Munchkin Nursery &
Gardens,LLC
www.munchkinnursery.com
Garden Writer - Photographer
- Lecturer
 
From:
owner-perennials@hort.net [mailto:owner-perennials@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Jeaa0088@aol.com
Subject: Re: Cardiandra
alternifolia
Gene....do
you have naturally acidic soil? If not, how do you amend yours specifically
for azaleas? And how do you alter this for other acid-loving plants? This
has always been a challenge for me. The yellow sulphur granules have never
been very effective for me and liquid acid fertilizers require nearly
constant drenchings. Peat moss has lightened the soil nicely but never
prevented chlorosis to any real degree. BTW, I have two Azaleas which do not
seem to mind non-acidified soil and thrive, blooming well each spring
in soil which is probably ph 7+. Can azaleas be planted under
trees or is the root competion/compaction too great? Thanks
so much for any help as I'd love to add more azaleas to the perennial
garden.
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