Camellia Planting

	Planting Suggestions for Camellias
	Advice on how to plant camellias
(c) 2004 Mississippi Gulf Coast Camellia Society
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Camellias refer a spot with light shade and good drainage such as were azaleas grow well.

If the soil appears either too sandy or too clay amend the soil with organic matter such as pine bark, rotted leaves, and humus and manure. A good rule of thumb is to prepare the soil for an area at least 3 times the width of the root ball-- and 5 or 6 times all the better. Some camellia society members use a mix of store-bought pine bark mulch and bagged compost & manure to create their soil amendments.

If you have poor drainage create a raised bed or even place the camellia on top of the ground and mound up the soil and soil amendments around the camellia.

Always water your camellia prior to planting and allow time for the natural draining excess moisture. For example, you might simply water the day before planting.

If planting balled-and-burlaped camellias that use a synthetic non-degradable burlap (such as sold on the gulf coast) be sure to remove the burlap before planting as it is probably a synthetic variety that will not rot once in the ground.

If planting a container-grown plant tease out any roots that may have encircled the pot and let fall away any excess potting mix.

Set the camellia in its hole checking so that it is on a firm footing and with the roots leading outward from the plant.

Once planted the top of camellia's root ball should sit at least an inch or two above ground (much more if on poorly drained soil) and be on a sufficiently firm base that it will not sink into the ground.

Cover the planting area with an organic mulch such as pine straw, rotted leaves or a pine bark mulch. MSU on winter mulching.

Authorities vary on the wisdom of fertilizing plants in their first year after planting. Camellia society members normally do fertilized and typically use a 12-6-6 three-month slow release fertilizer on their plants in early March. A good compromise might be to wait at least a month or so before fertilizing, but avoid fertilizing between August and the last frost -- which on the coast is late February to early March.

Planting Suggestions for Camellias