How to Prune Rhododendrons After Blooming
Rhododendrons are flowering bushes that are abundant throughout the United States, especially in the Southern region. They are very popular in landscape plans due to the fact that the leaves remain green during the winter and they produce vibrant colorful blooms during the spring months. Rhododendrons need very little care and can withstand droughts and hot climates. Although rhododendrons do not need to be pruned to maintain the health of the plant, it is often necessary to prune back large shrubs that are crowding out other pants or hanging over walkways. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Wait until the early spring to prune rhododendrons since this is the blooming period. Most gardeners in warmer climates can prune in March; however, gardeners in other areas should wait until buds begin to appear on the plant stems.
-
2
Use pruning sheers to remove dead flower blooms. This is called "dead heading" and is done by cutting the stem directly below the bottom of the flower to remove it from the plant.
-
-
3
Use pruning sheers to cut off any stems that are brown or diseased. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle as close to the root of the plant as possible.
-
4
Cut off several stems from the center of the rhododendron. This is to encourage air flow which will result in better growth and improve the health of the plant.
-
5
Cut back any stems that are hanging over walkways or crowding out other plants.
-
6
Locate stems that have been pruned and determine if any of the stems measure more than 1-inch in diameter. Paint the cut section of these stems with a solution of pruning seal that is available at any gardening center.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Since rhododendrons produce an abundance of flowers, gardeners do not need to worry about cutting off too many blooms, as is normally the case with other plants.
