Azalea

[BabsG]

I have a very sad azalea in the garden which is now about twenty years old. Every year it puts up about three spindly stems and nothing else. It did flower once a long time ago but nothing in about ten years. I am reluctant to get rid of it as it has great sentimental value to me. Is there anything I can do to encourage it to flower? I have tried moving it but that just made it sulk even more.
Thanks for your help.

[oldernowiser]

Azaleas like acid soil. If yours isnt acid the azalea may never do well. You can try giving it an ericaceous feed (from garden centres)regularly, plus a general slow release feed as well, like growmore. You might wish to move it to a large pot containing ericaceous compost. Do it in the Autumn or early Spring, and prune it fairly hard, then feed and water well.

[Lonnie]

Plenty of water during the growing season, and feed it cold tea.

[BabsG]

Thank you both very much. I will start treatment today and hope to save the patient.