when to trim rhododendron

Proceed with caution though as not all rhododendrons will respond well to this treatment. If necessary you can coppice the plant down to around 150cm tall.

Pin On How Or When To Trim Rhododendron

If these dead flowers and wood are left on the plant the amount of blossoming produced the following year may be reduced.

. Thats because you can easily break a branch. Because a rhododendron is ornamental you have both of those options and both have their pro and cons. The plant is dormant so you have less chance of insect or disease issues that might pop up in the cool humid late spring and summer. When should you cut back rhododendrons.

Pruned at this time the plant has plenty of time to develop new wood. This growth will become next years old. When To Prune Rhododendrons. Fourth if youre pruning in spring summer or autumn be sure to check for hornet nests.

Undertake this task in winter while your rhododendron is dormant or in spring when flowers have faded. The best time to prune rhododendrons is after a full flush of blooms. Pruning in the late winter I call my slash and burn school of pruning. Use clean and sharp pruning shears.

Between the first frost in fall and the last frost in spring is a good time to fertilize. This applies to both evergreen and deciduous azalea varieties. Although the plant is bare for a. Cut all the branches about to 60 cm 2 ft high.

First the ideal time to do undertake rejuvenation pruning is not after flowering thats when you do light pruning but rather early in the spring before the start of the growing season. Prune dwarf rhododendrons lightly in the spring or at any time dead or diseased wood is observed. Rhododendrons should be clipped for yearly maintenance in late winter while the plant is dormant. This process takes off many of the rhododendron branches.

It is unlikely that the plant will survive a single shot surgery but it is possible that it will make a strong recovery. You can prune rhododendrons to keep them in shape remove spent flowers to serve energy rejuvenate the plant or remove diseased or dead bits. Many rhododendron species and hybrids can be severely pruned and come back as good as new. Each branch is cut at a different height to produce a staggered arrangement that will make the shrub look natural when the new shoots mature.

Maintenance pruning simply refers to pruning the plant to keep it healthy while removing dead flowers and wood. Rejuvenation pruning is best used to restore shrubs that have become leggy overgrown or otherwise unattractive. And this is extra true of neglected plants. Most pruning is best down bwteen late winter after the first frost and right up to the last frost in spring.

The best time to carry out heavy pruning of rhododendrons is in February to March when the plant has plenty of energy after the winter and just before the sap rises in the spring explains David Millais. Dont try to do all of it at the same time. This is when they are technically dormant for winter and less likely to suffer. When pruning a rhododendron pay attention to the following things.

Ideally perform pruning immediately after flowering May to mid-June. Pruning can be done in the early spring when the plants are sparse and the site has grown too large. The Ultimate Explanation The best time to fertilize rhododendrons is in the late winter when the plant is not active. Choose a frost-free day in February or March and cut back branches hard to one of the tiny dormant buds.

Third dont prune rhododendrons if it is frozen outside. When should rhododendrons be pruned. Thats because they love to build their summer homes in rhodies. Light pruning after flowering is a suitable method for cutting the rhododendron into shape and removing diseased and overhanging shoots.

And yes you will need a saw.