Newbie needs advice on planting pyracantha and azalea

Hi
I am a complete - but really interested - beginner and have just bought a house with my first garden!

I have been given two plants as presents from friends, but really am not sure what the best way to plant them is - can anyone help?

One is a Pyracantha Firethorn and the other is an azalea. I want to plant them out now - can I do that? Will they survive the cold weather? Any advice on planting these to do justice to my first plants would be gratefully received!!!

 

Pyracantha are usually grown planted against a wall or a fence and tied in to make a flattish bush. Do not plant where you may brush against them, the thorns are long and sharp!
Azaleas like dappled shade and a peaty soil so avoid a dry site in full sun.
It may well be a bit cold at present for planting out, but as long as there is no frost on the top and soil is not frozen you can plant out both any time between now and early Spring.
Choose your spot and dig a hole about as deep as the plant pot in which the plants are now. You are aiming to put the plants in the ground with the same amount of stem showing above the soil as is showing in the pot. This is especially important for the azalea which hates to be deeply planted. For the azalea you would be best to add some pure peat (not potting compost unless it is marked as suitable for acid loving plants.) If the soil is dry then water in well and hopefully they will grow for you.
Do be careful, plant growing is highly addictive

 

Amen to that last comment, Palustris!!!

As for the shrubs, can't comment on the azalea but my pyracantha was plonked in with little ceremony and then moved in like fashion. It never turned a hair (or thorn!). Just ocasionally you get away without the rule book.

 

Thanks for the information - it really helps! Just one other thig - if i don't plant either of them now as we are having quite heavy frosts, will they both last indoors?

 

Neither of them will come to much harm kept cool and indoors. Trouble is you would really need then to keep them in similar conditions until spring.

 

For my two pennyworth here - unless the ground is actually frozen, planting them now would be best. Frost rarely penetrates below the top 1" or so and certainly from the weather forecast for the south east, it ain't too bad. They should be fine - both of them - gives them a chance to get their roots down and settled before the spring.

 

Thanks so much to Palustris, Fran and michaelmsdaisy for your help.

Catinwaiting