Alrighty then!!! Guess I will just use it and see how it does!!!

Judy, I'd thought possibly someone else had tried it on shrubs other than roses and might post.... no takers though :)

I brought up a package Messenger from my basement and didn't find a pamphlet in the package describing what it may or may not do for different types plants, I've only used it on roses.

Just one season, and I think the roses needed less care in general but they weren't perfect - keeping in mind this is not a good location for roses. Cool, foggy, windy, close to the ocean.

So, what I'm wondering, was there something specific going on with your azaleas that you were hoping to address by spraying with Messenger? I'm thinking, bad growing conditions/site, other things, can be corrected but I'm not sure by this product...

Hi Morz8, I had just heard some great things about messenger on everyones roses and thought I might just spray a little on my azaleas to see if it might help them bloom a little better. Last year the azaleas got hit pretty bad by the late freeze and then the drought kept them wilted so I thought it might give their roots a boost too and help them through whats looking like another drought. I to believe they get way to much shade and am taking out a few trees to give them a little more filtered light. And I tried not to plant them too deep because I heard that kept them from blooming as well also. They are only going on their third year in the ground and I hope with time they will only get better and better. Thanks, Judy

You've touched on two of the main reasons they might not bloom well, too much shade and drought in summer - summer is the time they are setting flower buds for the following Spring and they can skimp on that step when under stress.

Giving them more light is a good plan, and do you keep them mulched? A good layer of something organic will help to condition the soil for those surface roots while conserving needed moisture.

Hi again Morz8, I guess my blooms will probably be skimpy this year because of lack of rain. I do keep alot of leaf mulch around them. Hence all the hardwood shade trees. I was hoping that since they were hardwood trees and lost their leaves in winter that the azalea would be ok to bloom since they do get alot of sun from Dec. to April. I guess I can put out some organics but do I do it now or wait til later? Thanks in advance for your help. Judy

Organic just means something that was once part of a plant and a layer of decomposing leaves should be fine. I use finished compost on my in-town beds, buying it when I run out of my own.

I don't know where you live or what kind of weather you are gardening in - I apply a compost mulch in Spring each year, most years add more in Fall, and replenish as needed to keep a top dressing around shrubs and perennials year round.

Thanks for all your suggestions morz8. I appreciate it. Thanks, Judy

For more on this stuff...

Here is a link that might be useful: The Myth of the Magic Bullet