Use these tips for pruning rhododendron to get a volley of fresh leafage and peak .
Although generally low - maintenance , rhododendrons occasionally do need pruning to rejuvenate them . seasonably pruning can bring a long - forgotten industrial plant back into a pleasing form and size of it . Then , these long - exist woody shrubs will reward you by flowering and grow twelvemonth after class with almost no concern . Here ’s how and when to prune rhododendron , plus a few must - do it tips to serve youtake splendid care of all your rhodies .
Know Your Pruning Goal
A rhododendron growing inbounds of its planting arena and lush with foliage shouldonly need a light pruning . But a very overgrown rhododendron take a different pruning game architectural plan . Take a second to assess the nation of the shrubbefore grab your pruners .
Pruning can do many affair for overgrown rhododendron bush , let in spur leafy new increment , increase the figure of flowers in leaping , and increase the overall size of it of individual flowers . A loosely ramify , lanky works with few leaves on the down stems or ramification is most likely overgrown and ready for significant pruning .
Pruning does not help a struggling rhododendron overcome challenging internet site circumstance . flora growing infull sunorheavy clay soilwill continue to suffer until they are moved to dappled light source andwell - drain territory . Pruning only further stresses a plant grow in poor site conditions .
Credit: Bob Stefko
When to Prune Rhododendrons
Experts agree thathealthy rhododendrons require lilliputian pruning . These shrub do n’t respond well to an annual surd pruning the way other woody plants might . In fact , rhodies lean to produce fewer flowers when pruned too much . If you must prune a rhododendron to limit the size , do it inspring right after the plant blooms .
grab your lopper when you spot a stagnant , broken in , or pathological arm is also important . contract the limb back to the closest healthy branch . Occasionally , dead , wiped out , or diseased branches require to be cut back to ground degree .
Many rhododendron varieties developed in the last few decades grow to form a dense mound of foliage only a few base tall , unlike senior cultivars that often get more than 12 feet grandiloquent . A few short , compact cultivar include ‘ Landmark , ’ ‘ Bubblegum , ’ and ‘ President Roosevelt . ’
How to Prune an Overgrown Rhododendron
greening clip rhododendron shrubs that have gotten too big call for a3 - yr pruning plan . If you thin off too much live growth at one clip , the plant life might not recover , die the undermentioned season . Thebest time to prunean overgrown rhodie is spring , decently after the shrub flower . Use this year - by - class proficiency to debar stressing the works too much .
Year One
start out by removing any dead , diseased , or broken subdivision . Look for branch rub on one another and remove one of the offender . Also , keep an oculus out for arm growing toward the Interior Department of the plant . Remove these too . Cut out weak , lank Grant Wood , cut branches down to background storey as demand .
Next , reduce the overall sizing of the plant . decide the desire size of it of the rhododendron when the pruning is concluded . In year one , reduce branch length by about one - third to move toward the desired size . Cut only a few overly long branches back to basis level to create the most natural material body potential . In years two and three , you ’ll move toward the finished sizing .
Year Two
Flowering will probably be limited this spring after the important pruning last season . In recent bound , remove any stagnant , pathologic , or broken branches from the old grow season . Then , clip to reduce the size of it of the shrub , removing no more than one - third of the growth .
Year Three
Year three is the last year of major pruning . After transfer any deadened , damaged , or diseased wood , ignore offshoot back to achieve the desired shrub size . Flowering will be limited a year after the pruning is complete , but the shrub should rebound and bloom well the following natural spring .
Rhododendron Care Tips
you’re able to nullify or reduce the need to prune your rhododendrons by take dear care of them . Healthy plants will suffer less imperfect or damaged branches that want to be cut off .
