You can protect a fairly large area from wind instead of each plant individually. Each situation and exposure is slightly different, but your plan above seems entirely reasonable. This is by way of an aside, but I'm finding the burlap available today very inferior to what was available only a few years ago. The weave is much looser, individual threads less substantial. This means it tears away from staples or other fasteners too easily and provides less protection. In the last couple of years I have been using frost protection fabric instead of burlap. Anything that filters and slows the wind without blocking it entirely will do the job.

What damages azaleas and other evergreen plants in winter is dessication. Frozen roots in frozen soil cannot move water into the above ground plant tissue. Winter sun on the leaves raises the temperature of the leaves causing them to transpire moisture which then cannot be replaced. Couple this with wind which also has a drying effect, and you are essentially freeze-drying the plant. The result in the spring is brown dead leaves and stems. How much winter sun is too much? This is really impossible to say. No direct sun is necessary in the winter, so blocking it to a reasonable degree will help any evergreen make it through the winter in good condition.

I do not think it matters that much if burlap comes in contact with the plant, since it is very permeable to air. It would matter more with a plastic covering I should think.

Another factor that will cause winter damage to azaleas is when they are relatively new plants and their roots have not 'dug in' really well yet....and then we get another extremely cold winter. 'Establishment' with any plant can take several growing seasons.

When growing plants near the edge of their hardiness zones, mulching, siting, shelter, and usually Spring planting rather than Fall, are important.

Great to hear my wind barrier plan would provide a decent benefit. I found the frost protection fabric in green, so I'll try that. I've never bought burlap before, but it sounds like a far cry from the stuff the coffee bean bags my grandpa used to use were made of. I'll also likely try to plant something like a yew on that corner as more of a long-term wind solution.

Thanks for the information on the benefit of and reason for winter shade. Surprised I had never really noticed it mentioned in the past, but I'll definitely keep that in mind in the future. I do just hate thinking about trying to cover up my azaleas.

Dave, I totally agree with you on spring planting in this area. I definitely think that extra time getting established over the summer (hot or not) helps them survive their first winter.

I've really loaded our gardens with azaleas and now realize how important the things you both pointed out have been. Even if it didn't kill the azaleas, those guys that were exposed to sun and wind really have not thrived like the others that were better situated. I grew up in the deep south where these things never really were too much of a concern, but I'm learning.