Question
I have a bi-level home with a 2 foot overhang in the front.  Several years ago when the house was brand new, we planted azaleas across the front of the house under the overhang.  We do get sun in the morning and have a beautiful circular garden in the front that does very well.  However, in front of the overhang for about two feet, I have noticed that in the winter the snow builds up and takes forever to melt.  So the sun must not get much further than about two feet before the overhang.  The azalea bushes turn white with what I am assuming is the plant mildew and look awful.  They are currently dead and I need to quit trying to bring them back.  What can I plant under the overhang along the front of the house.  I am trying to get as much color as I can.  I have replaced several of the azaleas and tried different things but they to get the mildew and either die the second year or come back the same nasty white and die.

Answer
Hello Peggie, I have been landscaping for myself and others for the past 16 years now, and owned a business for the last 7, so hopefully what I tell you helps--I've seen and dealt with all these issues.

A two foot overhang in and of itself should not create that much of a problem (especially for azaleas# when it comes to shade.  However, it may depending on which direction you home faces, and how many large surrounding trees you have.  #I am assuming this 2 foot overhang is at least 6' off the ground, not directly near the ground.)  There are many cases where snow is slow to melt surrounding azaleas when compared to the rest of the yard, yet the azaleas do great.  

There is something called "Powdery Mildew" which plants can get (common in hydrangea)and there is a chemical spray you can get to cure the problem.  If you're into natural products, Milk has been known the work against fungicides, as well as baking soda and also cornmeal. (Recipe for baking soda fungicide- ? tablespoon of baking soda 暯 teaspoon of liquid soap ? gallon of water.  If you get a store bough fungicide just make sure it works against powdery mildew.  This problem is usually caused by watering to late in the evening--the water sits on the leaves all thru the night until the sun comes out in the morning.  Let me ask you, do you get any type of mildew or mold on your siding (or brick) behind the plants?

However you repeatedly get the problem none-the-less, so to try something different, I'd try something a little more hardy like rhododendrons (can get semi-large if not pruned) or something smaller and compact, Holly Heleri.  When you install these plants make sure to cut into the roots, releasing them from being tangled, and dig the proper size hole.  You can see my video on this at http://tinyurl.com/y38m5l3

Make sure the soil is in good enough shape too.  If any dogs or animals have been urinating there then til in a little lime.  (Lime, the power from a garden store).  

Good luck with your next planting... hopefully these will be the ones!

PS, If I've helped and you have the chance, would you let me know in a quick survey here on AllExperts.com?  Thanks so much!

Brandon Swisher
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