I would just dig a large hole and fill that with ericacious before putting in the plant.

Thanks Maggy ! Sorry forgot to mention where the patio is being extended to it will be raised by about a foot to level with old patio area so the new bed will just be a empty hole.

Oh and please excuse my poor spelling. I should have googled it :-)

Well if it isnt too big and you can afford it fill the lot with erc; then you know you can plant anything acid loving there. Dont worry about spelling lol I dont.

Thanks Maggy! I'll wait till it's done and work out the cost. Any idea on spacing azaleas? How near to fence panels and other plants ?

Azaleas do better in a semi shade situation, and dont plant them too close to each other, keep them well watered more so through the summer whilst they are producing next years flower buds, once they get going you can feed with an ericacious liquid feed every 2/3 weeks through the growing season, julien.

Thanks julien the area I had in mind gets some sun for part of the day it's going to be hard to leave gaps though for spread because I bought quite a few. Maybe put the others in pots thanks !

Putting lime hating plants in holes filled with ericaceous compost in an alkaline soil is a waste of time. The lime will eventually leach into the compost and cause problems for the plants.

Bill, if you want to improve your soil after planting the azaleas, then work in plenty of rotting pine needles, i make my own compost from all the needle drop from a ceder tree, and work it in to the borders and around the acid loving plants that i come in contact with on my jobs, julien.

And the other thing to add to soil for any Rhododendrons is chopped up and composted Rhododendron leaves.

Azalea, rhodos and clematis like to be in a shady spot first thing in the morning. Sun on buds and leaves which have frost on them in the early part of the year may mean you lose all the flowers.

I see scotsgran. I bought 3 more clematis today and wondered if they would be ok in shaded morning area against a fence. Now I know the answer I'll pop them in the ground in the morning. Thanks!