Gardening By The Yard # 8

To prevent injuries, it is important to warm up before beginning garden work by taking a hot shower or a walk through the yard, performing stretches targeting large muscle groups and areas like the back and arms, using tools with handles appropriate for your height, maintaining proper posture when lifting or performing tasks, and staying hydrated even if you're not thirsty.

The best time to prune azaleas is shortly after they flower in spring.

You can use a terracotta water sensor that darkens when absorbing water and lightens when dry, an automated plant watering system that can be set to water for a specific number of days, or self-watering systems like drip irrigation bags or terracotta devices shaped like frogs which release water gradually.

Yellowing azalea leaves may be caused by low iron, low nitrogen, or too high a pH in the soil. To fix this, you can use specially formulated azalea food from a local nursery designed to address these issues.

When lifting heavy objects, use your legs more by squatting rather than bending your back, keep your back straight and arms like cables without pulling, and if necessary, move objects by dragging while maintaining a straight back and using your legs.

Create a raised bed using a mix of composted pine bark, sandy loam, and peat moss. Ensure good drainage by adding a layer of expanded shale, and fertilize with a high nitrogen mix that contains sulfur and iron.

Good companion plants for azaleas that thrive in similar soil and environmental conditions are camellias, Japanese maples, euphorbias, and various types of ferns.