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Skillfully placing rhododendrons in the landscape design of the garden, you can transform it beyond recognition. These beautiful shrubs bloom in late spring, when tulips and daffodils are already withering, and other plants are just waking up. They amaze with brightness and abundance of flowers, some smell unobtrusively and gently.
Features of rhododendrons in landscape design
In Japan, rhododendrons have been grown since ancient times; the Japanese consider these flowers a symbol of pleasure and deceit. Beautiful shrubs can be found in the landscape design of many Japanese gardens. Rhododendrons or azaleas came to Our Country as a gift to the emperor in 1860.
Rhododendrons are divided into 3 groups:
- deciduous;
- evergreen;
- semi-evergreen.
Deciduous shrubs shed their leaves for the winter; they grow best in the temperate climate of central Our Country. Evergreens change foliage 1 time in 2 years. Semi-evergreens shed one part of the foliage for the winter, and the other in the spring.
It is easy to distinguish evergreen rhododendrons in the garden landscape in the photo by dense leathery leaves. Interestingly, at air temperatures below 0 ° C, such leaf plates roll up into a tube – the bush reduces the area of moisture evaporation and remains viable until spring.
A rare plant in garden landscape design has such a rich palette of shades as rhododendron. There are varieties with flowers of various shades:
- yellow;
- white;
- red;
- salmon;
- purple;
- purple;
- pink;
- orange;
- burgundy.
Rhododendrons have a large distribution area. In Our Country, they are found wild in the Far East, Kamchatka, Sakhalin and Siberia. They belong to the Heather family, which also includes cranberries and blueberries.
Rhododendrons bloom very beautifully. Large bell-shaped corollas of various shades bloom with lush fireworks, hiding foliage under them. One brush contains several colors. There are varieties with wavy, corrugated flower petals, terry or intricately curved corollas.
Recommendations for planting rhododendrons in the landscape
For those gardeners who love flowers, but do not have a well-lit flower bed on the site, rhododendrons will be a real find. These shrubs grow well and bloom in the shade on the north side of the house, which is difficult to decorate with any vegetation.
In nature, rhododendrons grow in the undergrowth where there is partial shade. When planting in the landscape design of the garden, this must be taken into account; from 10 am to 16 pm, direct sun should not shine on the bushes. It is good to plant bushes around an artificial pond, they love coolness and moisture. Ornamental evergreen species need some morning or evening sun.
Deciduous rhododendrons are less capricious, they can grow in a well-lit garden area. Evergreen varieties do best in the shade of buildings or large trees. Plants are sensitive to care, with improper care they may not bloom for a long time.
Species rhododendrons are propagated by seeds, hybrid varieties – by cuttings or seedlings from garden centers. Plants easily tolerate transplantation at a young age. Their seeds are photosensitive and should not be planted in the soil when sown. Photosynthesis occurs when light enters, this process helps the germination of seedlings.
Rules for combining rhododendrons with other plants
Rhododendrons in garden landscape design grow remarkably under pines and fruit trees. They do not like birch, maple and plants with a superficial root system, which will be competitors for them in the struggle for water and food. It is undesirable to plant bushes on the lawn. The grass in the trunk circle will take away nutrients and moisture. Young growth will not be able to develop in shading and will die off.
The success of growing rhododendrons in a garden landscape depends on the right substrate. It is prepared from the following components, taken in equal proportions:
- garden land;
- rotted coniferous litter from under a pine;
- sour peat.
Even better, instead of garden soil, add pine forest bedding that contains mycorrhiza. Azalea roots cannot get nutrients from the soil; mycorrhizal fungus helps them in this.
Rhododendrons are well combined in landscape design with coniferous plants. Low-growing shrubs are planted in the foreground in groups of 3-5 pieces. Groups are placed in accordance with the color of the flowers, avoiding bright contrasts. White inflorescences are combined with any shade without creating excessive variegation in landscape design. Flowering of each individual variety lasts two weeks.
Conifers and rhododendrons in landscape design
Successful companions for rhododendrons in landscape design are conifers. Such a composition looks beautiful in spring – evergreen pines, firs, junipers alternate with bushes completely strewn with flowers. In autumn, some rhododendrons change color of foliage, and conifers remain green or bluish-gray – this gives landscape design a special charm.
In deciduous species, the color range of inflorescences is bright, fiery – orange, lemon, yellow. Evergreen varieties most often have white, purple, pink, burgundy flowers. They can be successfully combined in a single garden composition of landscape design, thanks to the contrast of cold and warm colors. In autumn, evergreen rhododendrons remain with green leaves, while deciduous ones change color to red, orange or yellow. It also looks very beautiful against the backdrop of evergreen pines or firs.
It is advisable for a beginner grower to buy seedlings of species rhododendrons, which are easy to care for. Having gained experience, you can move on to evergreen species and varieties. The rhododendron of the Finnish selection of the University of Helsinki has good frost resistance.
Landscape tricks with rhododendrons in the garden
There is no particular difference in care between deciduous and evergreen rhododendrons. Only the landing site in the landscape design of the garden for deciduous varieties can be chosen more sunny. These ornamental shrubs tolerate heat and cold well and do not grow only on alkaline and neutral soils. And also in areas where irrigation water contains a lot of lime. It is best to use rainwater or spring water for irrigation.
There are many beautiful species of rhododendrons and cultivars released for landscaping in certain regions. They differ not only in the color of flowers, but also in the period of flowering. For example, the Daurian rhododendron blooms early, in early May. By planting several varieties with different flowering periods, you can observe this miracle in your garden for a month and a half. And the Pontic rhododendron is one of the most winter-hardy, and its other advantage is the wonderful aroma of blossoming flowers.
Rhododendrons with conifers in garden landscaping not only blend well, but also have general care requirements. They do not like rotted manure and sawdust. Lime stones that reduce the acidity of the soil should not be used to decorate the near-stem circle of plants. It is advisable to check this indicator using a special device – an acid meter. The soil eventually becomes neutral, as in the rest of the garden, and it needs to be acidified.
The heaviest time for azaleas is February-March. If evergreen bushes are exposed to direct sunlight most of the day, flower buds and leaves can burn. To prevent this from happening, the plants need to be shaded and watered with warm water under the root. Feeding once every 2-3 years will help to increase the decorative properties of rhododendrons in landscape design. If they are applied moderately, the bushes will produce less shoots, begin to branch better and bloom more magnificently.
Conclusion
Rhododendrons in the landscape design of the garden look unusual and beautiful. These shrubs are unpretentious in care – they easily tolerate a slight drought, summer heat and winter frosts. Flower buds and leaves can be scorched in February or March. Shrubs do not need frequent feeding; even a novice gardener can provide them with care. It is important to buy zoned varieties or hardy natural species to decorate landscape design, then every spring the garden will be decorated with beautiful flowers.
