I planted a rhododendron last autumn and it seemed to establish
itself ok during the year, but in the last month or so the ends of the
leaves have gone brown and brittle. I have to admit, I haven't watered it
much, but I didn't think it needed much water. I've also put plenty of
ericaceous fertilizer and peat around it, especially during the spring.

Any ideas what's wrong and what I can do, if anything, to correct it before
it dies? I can email a picture if needed.



a

On 8/8/04 22:12, in article ,
"al" wrote:

I planted a rhododendron last autumn and it seemed to establish
itself ok during the year, but in the last month or so the ends of the
leaves have gone brown and brittle. I have to admit, I haven't watered it
much, but I didn't think it needed much water. I've also put plenty of
ericaceous fertilizer and peat around it, especially during the spring.

Any ideas what's wrong and what I can do, if anything, to correct it before
it dies? I can email a picture if needed.


I'm going to guess lack of water while it establishes itself. You don't say
where you live but here in the SW we've had long dry spells, even if they
weren't all hot, too. We've also had some strong winds and the two
conditions combined are dangerous to many plants.
Assuming it's in the ground and not in a pot, try watering it morning and
evening until real, serious rain sets in.
You don't say what your soil is like but I doubt you need to do more in that
line or not at present - the old saw is that you should never feed a sick
plant. AND, is it possible that it's been both dry at the root and in the
path of strong winds?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

"Sacha" wrote in message
news:BD3C6B04.EE1%
I'm going to guess lack of water while it establishes itself. You don't
say
where you live but here in the SW we've had long dry spells, even if they
weren't all hot, too. We've also had some strong winds and the two
conditions combined are dangerous to many plants.

I'm in NW London. We've had some very hot weather recently, but rain on
and off too. I had been neglecting the front garden (once a week water - if
that!), but am giving it a really good soaking each weekend now and about 3
times during the week it gets a quick blast.

Assuming it's in the ground and not in a pot, try watering it morning and
evening until real, serious rain sets in.
You don't say what your soil is like but I doubt you need to do more in
that
line or not at present - the old saw is that you should never feed a sick
plant. AND, is it possible that it's been both dry at the root and in the
path of strong winds?
--

I've never been good at describing soil! The pH is quite neutral so I added
ericaceous compost in the planting hole and generously around the top of the
plant. I've also watered it directly a couple of times with an ericaceous
water-soluble fertilizer as I thought the soil might not be acidic enough.
Perhaps I did too much and have burnt it?

It's in the front garden so it gets sun until early/mid-afternoon and
complete shade in the evening. It's not really protected from wind, but
then isn't stuck out on its own either.

If you can't feed a sick plant, what can you do for it?




a

"al" wrote in message
. uk...
"Sacha" wrote in message
news:BD3C6B04.EE1%
I'm going to guess lack of water while it establishes itself. You
don't
say
where you live but here in the SW we've had long dry spells, even
if they
weren't all hot, too. We've also had some strong winds and the
two
conditions combined are dangerous to many plants.

I'm in NW London. We've had some very hot weather recently, but
rain on
and off too. I had been neglecting the front garden (once a week
water - if
that!), but am giving it a really good soaking each weekend now and
about 3
times during the week it gets a quick blast.

"Quick blasts" of watering almost certainly do more harm than good,
because they encourage roots to grow near the surface, so the more you
give quick blasts, the more quick blasts the plant requires.

[snip]

Franz.

In article , al
writes
--

I've never been good at describing soil! The pH is quite neutral so I added
ericaceous compost in the planting hole and generously around the top of the
plant. I've also watered it directly a couple of times with an ericaceous
water-soluble fertilizer as I thought the soil might not be acidic enough.
Perhaps I did too much and have burnt it?

It's not so much that rhododendrons are desperate for a low pH, more
that they can't take up iron in a high pH soil. If you're on the acid
side of neutral you should be OK.


It's in the front garden so it gets sun until early/mid-afternoon and
complete shade in the evening. It's not really protected from wind, but
then isn't stuck out on its own either.

If you can't feed a sick plant, what can you do for it?

Usually (particularly if its in a pot) - let its roots dry out a little
;-)
Sometimes - give it more water - though if you are getting major
problems from lack of water it's usually too late.

Other than that - it's what you'd do for a human - find out what's wrong
then treat the cause, or at least, the symptoms.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

On 9/8/04 8:33 pm, in article
, "al"
wrote:

snip

If you can't feed a sick plant, what can you do for it?

Water it well, let it drain well etc. But don't just give it a quick
squirt from the hose - really saturate it and then do the same again next
morning or evening, until nature starts to do it for you.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

"Sacha" wrote in message
news:BD3DA5B1.F82%
Water it well, let it drain well etc. But don't just give it a quick
squirt from the hose - really saturate it and then do the same again next
morning or evening, until nature starts to do it for you.
--

Well .. not wanting to wash away the soil or anything ... but I did water it
pretty much directly for a good 5 minutes yesterday (and kept coming back
over it briefly during about the next 20 mins while I watered the rest of
the front). That may not sound like much, but it's a lot of direct water
from a hose (nozzle of course or I'd have just jet-washed it out of the
bed!). The soil, if I managed to stop it from ponding too much, is quite
happy to drink what seems like an infinite amount of water!

Am I better off doing this on Saturday and Sunday so it's thoroughly
drenched and then leaving it for the week to dry out a bit before repeating
the cycle?



a

"al" wrote in message
. uk...

"Sacha" wrote in message
news:BD3DA5B1.F82%
Water it well, let it drain well etc. But don't just give it a quick
squirt from the hose - really saturate it and then do the same again next
morning or evening, until nature starts to do it for you.
--

Well .. not wanting to wash away the soil or anything ... but I did water it
pretty much directly for a good 5 minutes yesterday (and kept coming back
over it briefly during about the next 20 mins while I watered the rest of
the front). That may not sound like much, but it's a lot of direct water
from a hose (nozzle of course or I'd have just jet-washed it out of the
bed!). The soil, if I managed to stop it from ponding too much, is quite
happy to drink what seems like an infinite amount of water!

I used to build 'dykes' around mine so that I could fill up the space and let it
soak in........

Am I better off doing this on Saturday and Sunday so it's thoroughly
drenched and then leaving it for the week to dry out a bit before repeating
the cycle?

That's what I do mostly. Try to get some ground cover plants around and under
the rodos. This will stop the soil drying out.
Jenny

"al" wrote in message
. uk...

"Sacha" wrote in message
news:BD3DA5B1.F82%
Water it well, let it drain well etc. But don't just give it a quick
squirt from the hose - really saturate it and then do the same again
next
morning or evening, until nature starts to do it for you.
--

Well .. not wanting to wash away the soil or anything ... but I did water
it
pretty much directly for a good 5 minutes yesterday (and kept coming back
over it briefly during about the next 20 mins while I watered the rest of
the front). That may not sound like much, but it's a lot of direct water
from a hose (nozzle of course or I'd have just jet-washed it out of the
bed!). The soil, if I managed to stop it from ponding too much, is quite
happy to drink what seems like an infinite amount of water!

Am I better off doing this on Saturday and Sunday so it's thoroughly
drenched and then leaving it for the week to dry out a bit before
repeating
the cycle?



a

I am still not seeing all the posts but has anyone mentioned the possibility
that you have hard water? if you have, it won't thank you for that and you
will need to collect rain water for it.
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

In article , al
writes


Well .. not wanting to wash away the soil or anything ... but I did water it
pretty much directly for a good 5 minutes yesterday (and kept coming back
over it briefly during about the next 20 mins while I watered the rest of
the front). That may not sound like much, but it's a lot of direct water
from a hose (nozzle of course or I'd have just jet-washed it out of the
bed!). The soil, if I managed to stop it from ponding too much, is quite
happy to drink what seems like an infinite amount of water!

Am I better off doing this on Saturday and Sunday so it's thoroughly
drenched and then leaving it for the week to dry out a bit before repeating
the cycle?

Yes.
It's also work poking your finger into the soil after watering to see
how far down the water has penetrated. Sometimes after a surprisingly
long time watering you find you've still only wetted the top inch!



a



--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

On 10/8/04 8:10, in article , "Kay"
wrote:

In article , al
writes

snip

Am I better off doing this on Saturday and Sunday so it's thoroughly
drenched and then leaving it for the week to dry out a bit before repeating
the cycle?

Yes.
It's also work poking your finger into the soil after watering to see
how far down the water has penetrated. Sometimes after a surprisingly
long time watering you find you've still only wetted the top inch!


If it won't damage the roots, or other nearby plants, the OP could stick a
foot length of narrow pipe down into the soil, so that only the top 3 or 4"
are showing. That's done a lot in dry countries and ensures that the hose,
when placed in said pipe, gets the water to where it will do most good!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

On 10/8/04 11:19, in article ,
"Martin " Martin wrote:

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 10:52:49 +0100, Sacha
wrote:


If it won't damage the roots, or other nearby plants, the OP could stick a
foot length of narrow pipe down into the soil, so that only the top 3 or 4"
are showing. That's done a lot in dry countries and ensures that the hose,
when placed in said pipe, gets the water to where it will do most good!

It's also done to trees planted in the streets in the Netherlands, but
since nobody ever waters the trees, I assumed it was to allow air to
get to the roots. They use corrugated plastic 1" hose here.

I've never heard of it being used to air the roots! But I've seen plenty of
instances of it used at the foot of young trees and shrubs. A lot of
Madeirans used to come to Jersey to work in horticulture and agriculture and
when planting, they often used this method. Once they'd been there awhile
they realised that even in Jersey, it wasn't exactly essential, given the
rainfall! But given the dryness of the last few weeks, it might be a help
to the OP.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)