GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Confused about pruning azaleas and rhodies

Bill[_13_] · 07-06-2008, 11:22 PM posted to rec.gardens

In article ,
(Patty Winter) wrote:

I have a handout from the American Rhododendron Society that
says the best time to prune rhodies and azaleas is in the spring,
just after flowering. Makes perfect sense to me, but the plants
aren't cooperating. :-)

By the time the current year's flowers are fading, the plants
are already forming buds (flower? leaves?) for next year. So
if I prune then, I'll end up removing new growth, and then
won't I have a barren plant for a year? But if I don't prune,
then I keep getting growth farther and farther out the branches,
leaving the centers of the plants increasingly empty. Any
suggestions?

Thanks!
Patty

I never prune them. Just dead head when I got the energy. But I do
prune in a way. I cut back to healthy wood killing borers in the
process with a focused intent.
I'd guess your mention of empty centers may be due to plants younger
plants less than 10 years.

Best!

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
Neat place .. http://www.petersvalley.org/