Hello, Donnas. Yes, sudden cold weather, after spring temperatures have been around for a while, can cause the bark to split if it freezes. You can look around to see if you notice this bark split, although some people report that it may not be visible sometimes until June or so. Some form of winter protection is needed when the weather does this.

Can you also make sure that it is getting adequate moisture? Insert a finger to a depth of 3-4" inches and see if it feels dry, moist or wet. If it is dry, it needs more water. If it feels moist, it is doing fine. If it feels wet, it is getting too much water amd this can cause root rot so tweak your sprinkler system.

Also, check for borer damage. If a borer got into the plant, parts of the plant above the entry point will die so ck in areas where the dead branches meet live branches.

Luis

It is wet. I think more wet than moist. Also, I think I planted it in the wrong spot because our yard slopes toward where I have it planted. It is up against the house in the corner where the basement step foundation is (if that makes sense), so there's nowhere for the water to go, just in that little corner against the concrete blocks. I did prune pretty much of it back, and I'm not that great at pruning. Will see if it lives, or if I've totally killed the plant.

Try watering only when the soil feels dry to the touch. Do this daily and notice how often you have to water. After a while, you will not need to ck the soil.

If the soil feels wet, that too can be bad as it promotes development of fungi in the azalea roots and that could kill the plant quickly. Consider another spot that has better drainage and transplant it before the heat of the summer starts.

Good luck, Luis

Donna,

I agree with all that has been said before. I also have one more point to consider, how close the azalea is to the foundation of your house. (Blocks, with time, dissolve a bit and raise the alkalinity of the soil close to the foundation. Azaleas need low ph.)

I planted 4 azaleas and a rhododendron on one side of a house, and the closest one to the foundation died; the others are doing very well--years later. While the others were growing, this plant was getting smaller every year, until one spring it did not make it. Sometimes the difference is just a few inches from the foundation.

In retrospect, I should have moved my azalea a few inches father away from the foundation; I guess, now, I know--I checked the ph!
Good luck.