Outdoor Gardenia Planting

Question

The spot where I want to plant my gardenia used to be azaleas, which keep dying on me. I have had over four or five azalea plants in this spot and none seem to survive. How do I condition this land to plant my gardenia?

Answer 1

Since the azaleas have been unable to thrive here, I would recommend solarizing the bed to kill off any harmful pests or diseases that may be associated with this. In addition, I would get the soil tested to see what, if any, nutrients may be lacking which could affect healthy plant growth. A soil test will allow you to treat the area with the appropriate nutrients and pH levels. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/how-to-solarize-garden-beds-to-eliminate-garden-pests-in-the-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm