Question
I have a small rhododendron in my back garden, which is currently blooming. I had given up on it, as it has lost most of its leaves since it was planted about 18 months ago. What can I do to improve its health?
Ellen
San Francisco
Answer
After your Rhododendron has finished blooming, remove the spent flower heads. Feed your plant with an acid fertilizer such as Maxsea Acid or EB Stone Azalea Camellia food very 4 to 6 weeks through summer. Mulch the plant with either Microbark or Forest Mulch Plus at least 2" deep. Water regularly as Rhododendron are shallow rooted. To regrow leaves on the lower legs of the shrub, prune back to just above the lowest set of leaves (If there are 6 main branches, cut back 2 this year, 2 the next and the last 2 the following year). New leaves will sprout below the pruning cut. The feeding should stimulate new leaves to the top 4" of each of the remaining branches. Keeping the plant well watered will be the most important for ultimate leaf health.
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