Hi, I've just drastically cut back leggy old shade tolerant azaleas along my small patio. They have been growing along a small retaining wall under my southern gem magnolias for many years and were very leggy. I'm in the middle of redoing the small bed below adding gardenias and some annuals so we have fragrance when we sit here.

Do you think I should replace the azaleas with something else, let them grow back, or just remove them and mulch over them? I want a clean look...I only get part sun from 2:30 to 5:30 in the hot Atlanta Summer of zone 7b so could only think of replacing with Encore azaleas, knockout roses, or low growing but flowering creepers? The mags have white flowers and so do the gardenias so thought of adding more color. Don't know if I have the patience to let them grow back. I can see this area everywhere from inside so this messy thing is driving me nuts!