"heeling in" plants like azaleas for transplant

[Jay]

We are having a swimming pool put in out backyard and we dug up a bunch of plants including mature azaleas, to put aside for 12 weeks while the pool is finished. We hope some will survive and can be used in landscaping the pool after it tis complete. A local landscape company placed them all close together and pushed some dirt up around the bases, and adivsed us to use an osccillatiung sprinkler (not impulse) on a timer. Does anyone have advice on methods to help ensure the survival of these plants? Is any sort of plant food/ fertilizer of value? How much water should they get? Thanks very much. Jay

[beecrofter]

Fertilizer would be like having a thanksgiving dinner following a heart transplant- don't do it.

Partial shade, protection from wind, a good supply of water, and drainage so it's not sitting in a puddle and perhaps an antitranspirant spray will all help. How much water will vary, do not let them dry out, poke around in the soil and be sure.

[Janet Baraclough]

The message from Jay contains these words:

OK so far

Does anyone have advice on methods to help

Do NOT attempt to move them into their new positions, until late autumn.

Is any sort of plant food/

Don't feed them at all, that will only force leaf growth and make more demands on the (damaged) root system. All they need for now, is to have their root balls covered up, and enough cool, water and shade.

Impossible to say without knowing your location, the climate, the soil, whether they are in shade.

They don't like lime so avoid using limed water.

Janet