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#1
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Rejuvenating leggy tired-looking rhododendron
Hi
There is a particular mature rhododendron bush in our garden (maybe 10-12 ft high) that looks like it needs rejuvenating - although I am no expert especially with rhodies, it definitely looks a bit on the sickly side, lots of leggy branches making the whole shrub look a bit sparse and the leaves are sagging down. It has several large bare trunks to it, looking almost like a small tree, and a lot of thick and old branches, there are also plenty of fat buds so it's obviously not on its last legs but I think it needs help. We only moved here last August and I haven't seen it in flower, I have no idea what kind it is except that it retained its leaves over the winter so I assume it's an evergreen one. I have spotted several others that look very similar to this in other people's gardens round here and most of them look rather more bushy, compact, greener and generally healthier than my specimen. The leaves are paler than I think they should be, drooping downwards and generally the whole shrub looks tired out. I have put some general plant food around its base and I have also cut back some of the dead and untidy trailing growth lower down to raise its canopy a bit. I think what it really needs is some kind of overall rejuvenation to get it bushing out better and healthier. I think this is the right time of year to do this but not sure how far into spring is advisable? I am a true amateur where rhododendrons are concerned. I have read up a bit about pruning/rejuvenation advice and indeed some advice says to cut it drastically down to stumps - but I'm not that brave, and it would also spoil the view out of our living room window as we look right at it and lots of birds are in and around it, it would be a shame to lose so much of it. Has anyone here rejuvenated a tired old rhododendron, how did they do it and did it work, how long did the regrowth take? Thanks for all and any advice! Lynda |
#2
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"Lynda Thornton" wrote in message ... Hi There is a particular mature rhododendron bush in our garden (maybe 10-12 ft high) that looks like it needs rejuvenating huge prune....... Has anyone here rejuvenated a tired old rhododendron, how did they do it and did it work, how long did the regrowth take? Thanks for all and any advice! Lynda I'd wait until it's flowered so that you can see what colour it is and whether you love or hate it :~) Pruning is best done after flowering is finished. It will need feeding and watering over the summer to build up for next year. I've successfully pruned several right down to the ground and they are now small bushy shrubs which will eventually be nicely shaped plants again. It looks really brutal, but they do survive it - tho you won't get many flowers for a couple of years. You can spread the pruning out over several years. taking a third out each year, but you might get funny shaped bushes for that length of time. Here's a good site with more info: http://www.eskimo.com/~enumclaw/Tips/pruning.html Jenny |
#3
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Remove all the growing tips first to promote bushiness from the base.
"Holly in France" wrote in message ... On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:08:36 +0000 (UTC), Lynda Thornton wrote: Hi There is a particular mature rhododendron bush in our garden (maybe 10-12 ft high) that looks like it needs rejuvenating - although I am no expert especially with rhodies, it definitely looks a bit on the sickly side, lots of leggy branches making the whole shrub look a bit sparse and the leaves are sagging down. It has several large bare trunks to it, looking almost like a small tree, and a lot of thick and old branches, there are also plenty of fat buds so it's obviously not on its last legs but I think it needs help. We only moved here last August and I haven't seen it in flower, I have no idea what kind it is except that it retained its leaves over the winter so I assume it's an evergreen one. I have spotted several others that look very similar to this in other people's gardens round here and most of them look rather more bushy, compact, greener and generally healthier than my specimen. The leaves are paler than I think they should be, drooping downwards and generally the whole shrub looks tired out. I have put some general plant food around its base and I have also cut back some of the dead and untidy trailing growth lower down to raise its canopy a bit. I think what it really needs is some kind of overall rejuvenation to get it bushing out better and healthier. I think this is the right time of year to do this but not sure how far into spring is advisable? I am a true amateur where rhododendrons are concerned. I have read up a bit about pruning/rejuvenation advice and indeed some advice says to cut it drastically down to stumps - but I'm not that brave, and it would also spoil the view out of our living room window as we look right at it and lots of birds are in and around it, it would be a shame to lose so much of it. Has anyone here rejuvenated a tired old rhododendron, how did they do it and did it work, how long did the regrowth take? Thanks for all and any advice! I've quoted your entire post in the hope that someone who has the answer will spot it! I would be most interested in the reply to this too, if anyone is able to help. I have a couple like this, not as big as yours, but very leggy, and I don't know whether, when or how much I dare cut them back. TIA -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
#4
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On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:08:36 +0000 (UTC), Lynda Thornton wrote:
Hi There is a particular mature rhododendron bush in our garden (maybe 10-12 ft high) that looks like it needs rejuvenating - although I am no expert especially with rhodies, it definitely looks a bit on the sickly side, lots of leggy branches making the whole shrub look a bit sparse and the leaves are sagging down. It has several large bare trunks to it, looking almost like a small tree, and a lot of thick and old branches, there are also plenty of fat buds so it's obviously not on its last legs but I think it needs help. We only moved here last August and I haven't seen it in flower, I have no idea what kind it is except that it retained its leaves over the winter so I assume it's an evergreen one. I have spotted several others that look very similar to this in other people's gardens round here and most of them look rather more bushy, compact, greener and generally healthier than my specimen. The leaves are paler than I think they should be, drooping downwards and generally the whole shrub looks tired out. I have put some general plant food around its base and I have also cut back some of the dead and untidy trailing growth lower down to raise its canopy a bit. I think what it really needs is some kind of overall rejuvenation to get it bushing out better and healthier. I think this is the right time of year to do this but not sure how far into spring is advisable? I am a true amateur where rhododendrons are concerned. I have read up a bit about pruning/rejuvenation advice and indeed some advice says to cut it drastically down to stumps - but I'm not that brave, and it would also spoil the view out of our living room window as we look right at it and lots of birds are in and around it, it would be a shame to lose so much of it. Has anyone here rejuvenated a tired old rhododendron, how did they do it and did it work, how long did the regrowth take? Thanks for all and any advice! I've quoted your entire post in the hope that someone who has the answer will spot it! I would be most interested in the reply to this too, if anyone is able to help. I have a couple like this, not as big as yours, but very leggy, and I don't know whether, when or how much I dare cut them back. TIA -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
#5
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"Holly in France" wrote in message ... On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:08:36 +0000 (UTC), Lynda Thornton wrote: Hi There is a particular mature rhododendron bush in our garden (maybe 10-12 ft high) that looks like it needs rejuvenating - although I am no expert especially with rhodies, it definitely looks a bit on the sickly side, lots of leggy branches making the whole shrub look a bit sparse and the leaves are sagging down. It has several large bare trunks to it, looking almost like a small tree, and a lot of thick and old branches, there are also plenty of fat buds so it's obviously not on its last legs but I think it needs help. We only moved here last August and I haven't seen it in flower, I have no idea what kind it is except that it retained its leaves over the winter so I assume it's an evergreen one. I have spotted several others that look very similar to this in other people's gardens round here and most of them look rather more bushy, compact, greener and generally healthier than my specimen. The leaves are paler than I think they should be, drooping downwards and generally the whole shrub looks tired out. I have put some general plant food around its base and I have also cut back some of the dead and untidy trailing growth lower down to raise its canopy a bit. I think what it really needs is some kind of overall rejuvenation to get it bushing out better and healthier. I think this is the right time of year to do this but not sure how far into spring is advisable? I am a true amateur where rhododendrons are concerned. I have read up a bit about pruning/rejuvenation advice and indeed some advice says to cut it drastically down to stumps - but I'm not that brave, and it would also spoil the view out of our living room window as we look right at it and lots of birds are in and around it, it would be a shame to lose so much of it. Has anyone here rejuvenated a tired old rhododendron, how did they do it and did it work, how long did the regrowth take? Thanks for all and any advice! I've quoted your entire post in the hope that someone who has the answer will spot it! I would be most interested in the reply to this too, if anyone is able to help. I have a couple like this, not as big as yours, but very leggy, and I don't know whether, when or how much I dare cut them back. TIA -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr Rhododendrons can be cut back almost to the ground, although I personally would do the stems over two years cut half back as soon as flowering finishes and do the other half next year if re-growth looks promising. You will of course have to wait for flowering to recommence! -- Charlie, gardening in Cornwall. http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs) |
#6
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On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 09:04:41 +0100, Charlie Pridham wrote:
Rhododendrons can be cut back almost to the ground, although I personally would do the stems over two years cut half back as soon as flowering finishes and do the other half next year if re-growth looks promising. You will of course have to wait for flowering to recommence! Thanks Charlie. All I have to do now is remember to do it when the time comes.... -- Holly, in France Holiday home in Dordogne http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr |
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