The garden rhododendron is a lush blooming evergreen shrub that will adorn any part of the garden. In addition, it is distinguished by good resistance to cold and relative unpretentiousness, so planting and caring for a rhododendron will not cause trouble and difficulties.
There are 2 favorable periods for planting a plant, these are spring and autumn. Depending on the climatic zone, planting is carried out in spring from mid-April to the end of May, when the ground has already warmed up enough. In autumn, however, you can plant in any month, until frost occurs.
Planting a rhododendron and caring for it will not cause difficulties even for a novice gardener
You should start planting a flower with the choice of a site. Rhododendron needs shelter from the midday sun and wind, so it can be planted on the northern sides of buildings that will create shade at the right time of day.
Neighborhood with plants with a powerful root system that grows to the sides should be avoided. The superficial roots of the rhododendron will not survive such a neighborhood, and the shrub will die.
If you cannot avoid a dangerous neighborhood, then you can create an artificial barrier between the plants in the form of a partition dug into the ground to a depth of at least one meter.
The planting hole for the bush should be at least 40 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter. The first layer is drainage, subject to a high level of groundwater.
The soil from the hole must be completely replaced with a mixture of peat and loam, in a ratio of 2: 1, respectively. Place the rhododendron together with the earthen lump in this mixture strictly vertically, dig in and lightly tamp. The root collar of the plant is left flush with the ground. Then the seedling is watered abundantly and sprinkled with mulch.
Flowering shrub care includes standard manipulations typical for any type of plantation:
- Watering and spraying. The plant must be watered with soft, acidified water in such an amount that the ground is moistened 30 cm deep. Water stagnation in the soil should not be allowed, otherwise the root system will quickly succumb to rotting. On hot days, the crown needs to be sprayed from a sprayer.
- Fertilizing the soil. You need to apply fertilizer at least twice a season. For the first time, feeding is done in early spring. The latter falls in the middle of summer, when the shrub has bloomed. It is better to use liquid products, semi-rotten cow dung infused in water for several days is well suited.
- Shrub pruning is done to maintain a decorative appearance and in the case of dry or frozen branches. Also, after flowering, each wilted bud should be cut off.
Rhododendrons are susceptible to some fungal diseases and invasion of harmful insects. Gardening stores offer a wide range of specialized products for the treatment and prevention of these problems.
Planting and caring for a garden rhododendron will not bring hassle and difficulties to the gardener if you know the main features of the flower. And when all conditions favorable for the plant are created, it will delight the eye with its appearance for many years.