Rhododendrons: partial shade and acidic soil - gardeners advice

  • Dec 24, 2019
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Rhododendrons grow wild in the late spring. Usually, they are seen as capricious plant, but this is an exaggeration. They will not give you trouble if will grow at a suitable location with an acidic soil.

Rhododendrons. Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru
Rhododendrons. Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru

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Garden harbingers of summer

Rhododendrons are suitable for single landings, and to create a free-growing hedges. Many species of rhododendrons retain their decorative foliage year-round, and in the spring garden brighten large bright buds. Best of all, these shrubs grow in sheltered lightly shaded areas, such as under the tall trees with sparse crowns. They have a shallow root system, so the soil under them does not require too deep processing. To rhododendrons have revealed itself in all its glory, they need acidic soil (pH = 4,5-5,5), not containing lime.

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Flowers and flower beds. Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru
Flowers and flower beds. Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru
Most species of rhododendrons originate from southern China, the Himalayas and other regions of Asia, and therefore accustomed to snowy winters and rainy summer months. However, they need to be protected from the cold winds and prolonged frosts.

Only acidic soil

As a rule, the rhododendrons are sold with closed root system or in containers, and in the open ground can be planted at any time of the year (if the land is, of course, not frozen).

Before planting the plants, specify the features of your garden soil. The first thing to check its acidity. If the soil is alkaline and contains calcium, leaves will soon turn yellow, flowering plants will be weak and eventually wither. In this case, the soil is immediately necessary to add an acidic humus bark, pine needles, peat and other acidifying additive or replace a special substrate to soil mixture and azaleas rhododendrons.

For planting is best to lay the big flower bed. Dig a pit depth of 1-1.5 m. Before you fill it with soil for rhododendrons and other ericaceous, put on the bottom layer of sawdust thickness of about 10 cm: it will prevent the penetration of the lower calcium soil layers.

On the sides with the same purpose to be stacked film about 1 mm thick.

Only acidic soil! Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru
Only acidic soil! Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru

little care

Zamulchiruyte soil under rhododendron bark or needles to retain moisture and to maintain an acidic reaction. It also will keep weed growth, which is important because rhododendron roots are close to the surface and frequent weeding may damage them. If necessary abundantly watered plants.

To feed, which is best done in the spring, use special acidifying composition for azaleas and rhododendrons or semi-ripe compost. In late autumn, when there was little rainfall, the bushes need to once again abundantly watered - so the plant is better to outsource the winter. Rhododendrons are usually killed in winter frost and drought: their leaves continue to evaporate moisture and the roots are simply unable to remove it from the frozen ground.

We plant the rhododendrons. Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru
We plant the rhododendrons. Photo used under the standard license © ofazende.ru

For planting in the garden of rhododendrons give preference Inkarho group. They have a strong root system and are resistant to calcareous soils.

If the soil in the garden is rich in lime, rhododendrons grow better not in the open field, but in the large containers -in this case, they will be much easier to provide suitable soil mixture.

For 30 minutes, you can:

  • Dig a hole for planting rhododendron, prepare the soil, plant plant.

This and many other materials can be found on our website.

Please put the Huskies and subscribe to the channel "About Fazenda". This will enable us to publish more interesting garden articles.

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