Planting Azaleas ???

Good Day, 
OK, now that I've got the Slocock 'Satan' Azaleas, how should I plant them??
I got 12 @ 50 cents each.
Don't look great but have some new growth and buds ready to bloom in the 
spring.
I can hardly wait...
But, first, I have to get most of them in the ground.
Everything I've read says to plant in a "soil mixture high in organic 
content."
How should I go about doing this?  I feel pretty stupid  :-(
Do I dig a large, deep hole and mix in a lot of compost?
I've also heard that they don't like to dry out but CAN'T STAND wet feet, and 
the deep hole is likely to hold water since they will be planted in heavy 
clay. 
So should I dig a very shallow, wide hole mixing in a lot of compost so the 
roots can grow horizontally??
The main place I want to put several is at the top of a hill that drops 8 ft 
over about 5 ft.  Surely that would give them enough drainage?  Gets late 
afternoon sun.  Actually, I'm more afraid it will be too dry for them there?
Some I want to save in my basement under lights over the winter.
Do you think this is do-able?
And should I fertilize in addition to the compost?
There are 3 kinds of Azalea/Rhody food at Wal-Mart alone; each one having a 
different formula?  For now, I think I am more concerned about the pH.
They will mainly be around a Colorado Blue Spruce.
Hope all these questions are clear enough.  
(Its midnite and I should be in bed!!)
Thanks again for your help.
Barb
USDA Zone 5, Rock Island, IL
"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails & cleaner minds."  Will Rogers
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