The rhododendrons that grow along the coasts of northern
California, Oregon and Washington, are so incredibly beautiful that
many people wish for them in their own gardens. Those days have
come for all areas of this state.
The rhododendrons that grow along the coasts of northern California, Oregon and Washington, are so incredibly beautiful that many people wish for them in their own gardens. Those days have come for all areas of this state.
Of course, those plants grown in extra hot or cold areas need to be containerized do they can be moved for protection. nevertheless, this is a small price to pay for having the prolific flowers of the rhododendron in your garden.
Like azaleas, the rhododendron is a shallow rooted plant that wants its roots cool, with excellent drainage but a pleasingly damp, very acidic soil.
While that may sound complicated, it isn’t. There are many soil mixtures available today that are made commercially especially for azaleas and rhododendrons.
All you have to do is plant it in a hole about one and one half the size of the root ball of the container the plant is in. Remove all the soil from the plant and use the special planting mix in the hole. On the other hand, if you have a well draining soil on the neutral to acid side, then mix in 50% peat moss and a wetting agent with this soil when you plant.
Choosing a correct place to plant a rhododendron is important.
They delight in partial shade in most areas and in the sun along the coast. They should never be placed near a wall or the house where watering might be a problem.
Placing them under trees that have invasive surface roots will also spell problems. If you do not have an area that meets its needs, then consider building a raised bed of some sort.
The bed should be at least two feet deep with the bottom half being a mix of your soil and a great deal of organic matter.
The top foot of soil needs to be at least 50% organic with peat and redwood compost being ideal.
In planting, the root ball should be placed where the soil surface is even to slightly lower than the surface roots. Never allow the soil to cover the base of the plant.
Mulch, such as loose bark, makes a fine cover to cool the roots and still allow water to drain well and this also goes a long way to prevent weeds and other possible problems.
Rhododendrons are pruned and fed in the spring months. Fertilizing for acid loving plants should be done monthly starting in the spring through August, at bloom time or immediately afterwards.
Use the fertilizer according to directions. The importance of good drainage can’t be stressed enough or root rot can set in.
The plant will respond to this by looking wilted and seemingly collapse besides its leaves turning yellow.
Salt burn caused by fertilizer or alkaline water gives brown edges to older leaves while the browning new growth is more likely to be windburn.
There are so many rhododendrons available, in fact over 10,000 named varieties. They range from the dwarfs a few inches high to rhododendrons in their native settings in Asia, which can reach a height of 80 feet.
