 |
| When should you prune Rhododendron? |
If you are looking for a fantastic spring flower display then Rhododendron have to be in your choice of top five shrubs. Not only are they smothered in brightly coloured blooms, they are evergreen, and tough as old boots. Over time, many of the traditional cultivars can become quite large specimens and arguably not really suitable for the small suburban garden. So if you are facing a Rhododendron specimen that has grown beyond its appropriate space you are going to have to consider giving it a cut. The question you should then be asking then is when should you prune Rhododendron?
Typically, Rhododendrons won't need much in the way of pruning. Their normal requirements is just to removal unhealthy, dead, diseased or damaged shoots. This is performed mid-spring, just before the new growth emerges. Avoid trimming immediately after the spring flush of new growth as this can lose you the following springs display of flowers.
If flowering is paramount to you, and you are only looking at performing a light trim then the answer is simple. Prune immediately after flowering. That way you will minimise the impact on next years show. If you are looking at a severe cut then you are in luck as Rhododendrons are known to responding well to a hard cutting back. Such heavy cuts are advised to be performed when the plant is dormant in late winter.
For related articles click onto the following links:
HOW TO GROW RHODODENDRON IMPEDITUM
HOW TO GROW RHODODENDRON SINOGRANDE
HOW TO GROW RHODODENDRONS IN ALKALINE SOIL
RHODODENDRON SINOGRANDE
No comments:
Post a Comment