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When should rhododendrons be pruned?
According to most professional landscapers, the ideal time for pruning rhododendrons is late winter, while the plant is dormant. However, any time between the first frost in fall and the last frost in spring (while the sap is low) will work.
How far back can I trim rhododendrons?
Depending on how big the rhododendron is, you may be able to cut back 15 to 20 inches of each branch of the plant. Because the rhododendron species are not meant to be cut in a shape, each primary branch that you cut should be cut at different heights to make the shrub appear natural.
What happens if you don’t Deadhead rhododendrons?
If you don’t do this task, your rhody will pump out about the same amount of flowers next spring as it did this year. If your goal is to produce more flowers, deadheading will encourage increased branching, and that usually results in more blooms (note the word “usually”).
Can you use hedge trimmers on rhododendrons?
Rhododendrons should never be trimmed with hedge trimmers or hand shears. No brushcuts. Use hand lopers to thin thicker branches. To create fullness, open the lower and interior plant to sunlight.
Are you supposed to deadhead rhododendrons?
In general, you should deadhead the flowers once the petals are wilting by snapping off or cutting the top stalk, which supports the petals. You can do this to each flower head while the shrub is still in bloom. This is deadheading. Now, pruning your rhody is a different concept.
How do you shape a rhododendron?
To shape a rhododendron, follow the branch from the end down to the last whorl of leaves you want to keep. Make the cut about ¼ inch above the topmost leaf in this cluster. Repeat as needed. Shaping is most easily done in late winter, while the plant is dormant.
What to do after a rhododendron has flowered?
As soon as the shrub has finished flowering in spring you can remove the spent flowers, cutting just above a set of leaves. This is also a good time to remove dead, dying or diseased branches.
Do rhododendrons flower twice a year?
In general, however, it is common for most species of rhododendron and azalea, including hybrids, to bloom during the spring. Certain species can bloom throughout the entire summer, into the autumn and even into the winter months. In colder climates, the same can occur between the months of April and May.
How do you rejuvenate rhododendrons?
Starts here2:08How to Rejuvenate a Rhododendron – YouTubeYouTube