How to Transplant Azaleas in Wet Weather

Transplant azaleas in early spring, before the shrubs break their dormancy, or in mid-fall after the plants go dormant for winter. Dormant transplants save the plant stress and resources.

Choose a drier day for site preparation to make soil amendment easier. Find a new site with partial, indirect or filtered sun and good air movement. Watch the site in the days leading up to the transplant for drainage during the rain; azaleas need good year-round drainage. Allot at least 5 square feet of space in the new site for the azalea.

Amend the soil during the drier day. Dig into the top 18 inches of soil in a 30-inch-square site and mix the soil, then incorporate 18 inches of organic matter for drainage and nutrition. Use organic compost, pine bark, dead leaves, leaf mold, grass clippings or sawdust to add acidic nutrition. This amendment also raises the soil level for ideal drainage.

Move the azalea on a moist day to keep the roots cool and moist during the move. Dig into the soil 16 to 18 inches from the trunk of the azalea and dig a trench around the shrub. Dig under the shrub's root ball to loosen it, then use the shovel to push the root ball up and out of the soil.

Move the azalea to its new site and plant it in a hole deep enough for the root and soil ball. End with the azalea at its original planting depth for best success. Fill the hole around the root ball with amended soil and pack it down firmly.

Lay 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch over the soil around the azalea to keep soil warm and free of weeds.