Question
I live in Mid-Michigan and my azaleas are not looking so great.  It's May 1st and I expected more green by now.  They bloomed great last year.  I did not prune them.  So, have I ruined them?   They are 85% brownish-rust colored leaves with sparse green.  I gave them some acidic food a few weeks ago...but then the weather turned cold again for a few weeks.  We should be only 65+ from here on until September.  What should I do? They get sun from 2:00 on.  

Answer
Elizabeth,

It sounds like the Azaleas have suffered some winter injury. I would fetilize again to encourage new growth and water them well. Make sure to check them for mites and whitefly during the season, insects gravitate towards weakened plants.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen