Choose the right plant for the right location
Many times, you may have a specific purpose in mind when adding a plant to your garden. You may have a large wall blank wall that needs breaking up. Or you may have a bay window that you want to have something blooming under. And you may even want a screen or hedge to block that nosey neighbor from seeing everything you do. All Camellias are different. There are vigorous and slow growers. There are large upright camellias, and there are small, rounded dwarf varieties. It stands to reason that you will not want a large growing camellia in front of that bay window, nor would you like the small, rounded dwarf variety as a screen or hedge. Consult with your plant professional for personalized recommendations tailored to your specific needs.
Examine your light conditions
Camellias can grow in a wide range of light conditions, and most varieties will have particular preferences. If you have a very sunny spot with no shade, then you would not want to plant a light-colored flower in this area because the plant and the flowers could suffer from sunburn. Darker colors tend to do ok in more sun. If you have a very dens,e heavy shade, then your plants may do well, but they may not bloom well. Brightly lit, but filtered light conditions are ideal for almost any camellia.
Darker Camellias do well in sunnier locations
Get To Know Your Soil
Camellias prefer well-drained, organic soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5. Very wet or mucky soils will likely cause root problems with Camellias. Raised beds or plantings often will do better for Camellias in wet soils. Dry soils can be a problem too. Sometimes our soils can become so sandy that when you water, it runs off and not go down to the roots. Very sandy soils can be corrected by adding organic compost to the soil. A simple pH kit will come in handy or simply submit a soil sample to your county extension agent if you’re unsure.
Irrigation of your Camellias
Most homes today have irrigation systems that take care of watering plants, so we don’t have to. But most systems today are designed to keep plants irrigated once established. You may have to make some adjustments to irrigation while your plants are becoming established. In very warm weather, you may even have to add some supplemental hand-watering just until the roots grow out into the surrounding soil.
Adding supplemental water to newly established Camellias may be necessary.
Plant for the future
You will need to consider what your plant will look like in 10, 20, or even 30 years down the road before you plant it in your garden. Examine the growth habit for each plant and the size you can expect in a range of years. If you have a plant that can become 6-8’wide and 10-12′ tall, you want to plant it where it can have plenty of room to grow – or you will be pruning to maintain the size. Keep in mind that Camellias don’t have a magic ‘stop-growing’ age or size. They can live for hundreds of years, and they can reach heights of 40-50′, and they keep going and going.
*Allow for future growth when planting Camellias so they don’t encroach on other plants in the garden
By following these guidelines, your Camellias in the garden will be a joy for years to come!
