Rhododendron bushes with their abundance of flowers create a colorful spectacle even when there is little else blooming in the garden. Pleasing: The ericaceous plants are quite easy to cultivate, provided you pay attention to a few basic points when planting and caring for them.
How to properly plant and care for rhododendrons?
To successfully plant and care for rhododendrons, choose a light, shady spot, loose and humus-rich soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Water regularly, fertilize in May and July, cut if necessary and remove diseased leaves.
Location and soil requirements
Rhododendrons are somewhat demanding when it comes to soil conditions. You need loose, humus-rich soil with good water storage properties. The pH value should be in the acidic range between 4.5 and 5.5. To improve the soil, you can mix rhododendron soil with the topsoil and in this way create ideal conditions.
The flowering bushes feel particularly comfortable in the light shade under tall trees. The north side of a building is also suitable. However, too little light is just as bad for the bushes as full sunlight.
Place rhododendrons correctly
- The optimal planting time is from the end of April to mid-May.
- The planting hole should be twice as wide and deep as the plant's root ball.
- Before inserting, place the small shrub in a bucket filled with water for some time. This allows the storage organs to become full of fluid.
- Introduce into the planting hole. The surface of the bale must be three centimeters below the ground surface.
- Mix the excavated soil with rhododendron soil, fill it up, tamp down the soil.
- Create a watering trough and water thoroughly.
Valuable care tips
Pouring
Rhododendrons need a consistent water supply. As it has shallow roots, the plant is unable to draw water from the deep layers of the earth. Therefore, water regularly during dry periods.
Fertilize
Fertilize the ericaceous plant in May and the end of July with special fertilizer (€8.00 at Amazon). To ensure that the plant is receiving optimal nutrients, you should occasionally check the pH of the soil. Too high a pH value leads to chlorosis, which you can recognize by yellowing of the leaves.
Cutting
In principle, it is not necessary to cut back rhododendrons. However, you can bring bushes that have become too lush back into shape through targeted pruning. The ideal time for this is early spring. Unfortunately, this care measure often results in the plant not producing any flowers this year or the following year. The reason: The formation of buds takes place directly after flowering, so you inevitably cut them off.
Tip
Occasionally the ericaceous plant is affected by leaf spot disease. Cut off discolored leaves as quickly as possible and dispose of them with household waste. You can combat pests such as the raw dodendron leafhopper in an ecologically friendly way using commercially available pesticides.
