Thirty years ago we planted a baby Rhododendron at our new home in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It was a house warming gift from our friends, Terry and Barbara. Barbie did all the work too and she has a magic touch in the garden because our Rhody grew and grew, and her saucer sized flowers stunned all visitors.
Note: I did prune her once and as if in protest there were no flowers for several years.
But she grew and grew and grew some more.
And this year she bloomed again foor the first time in a long time (see photo above)!
But Rhody was suddenly enormous!
She reached the roof of the house and spread out to cover two windows.
That was when Bill said, “She needs to be pruned.” “No,” I cried, “She will not flower again for years.” Then Bill left it to me, but the seeds of doubt were planted.
I literally lost sleep over the decision but finally got enough courage to begin to cut. “Just a little here and there,” I thought.
I think I cut too much.
I am so sad and so sorry.
Do you think I killed Rhody?
Hope Rhody bounces back! Apparently there are optimum times and ways to prune, depending on type and what you want to achieve!
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I don’t think you killed Rhody 🙂
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Not my area of expertise, but my wife trims things back this far all the time and they bounce right back.
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Oh dear me what a shame. But I am sure it will grow again.Give it some fertilizer.
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If done at the correct time and you take out the right growth you should have a happier RHODY 🙂
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Maybe he’ll come back next year, Dor. I can’t imagine you killed it.
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I wish I knew anything about gardening
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I know nothing about flowers, but I’m sure Rhody will be just fine :). Think positive!!
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Definitely not. They are a hardy lot as evidenced by the fact they took over your house! Mountain Laurel are so beautiful!
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? I would top it off a little so you don’t have those sticks on top. You are very lucky. My 3 rhodys are not happy. I have moved them 3 times and still not many flowers. I’m thinking of moving them yet again. Most things should be pruned after they flower because they start making buds for next year. Good luck with that.
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Oh, dear! As I recall, when it comes to plants, you and I have something in common…we’re plant killers! But there may be hope for Rhody yet. We prune ours every year so it doesn’t get huge. I’ve seen this one gargantuan rhody that looks like it’s taking over a house. Go to this link to see the photo: https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2018/06/huge-rhododendron-in-western-pennsylvania.html
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Oh, dear. Definitely won’t be flowering next year. 😉
You may as well cut the big stems back to about 2 feet tall, preferably just above a leaf bud if you can see one.
We had bad winter kill this year and several rhodies had to be cut to the ground. It seems to happen every 20 years or so up here in New England. But they’ll regenerate.
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Oh dear Dor, you may have gone a BIT overboard. I hope you collected some of those gorgeous blooms before you chopped. I’m sure the tree will be fine – probably even better next time around!
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I am no gardener but it’s usually better to prune in autumn or winter when the plant is not growing but Rhody may be OK when she’s had time to recover. Watch out for signs of new leaves and be patient.
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I think I may have had the right time but not the right way! 🙂
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I ho[e you are right Joshi! Thank you.
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Thank you to you and your wife Andrew, for giving me hope.
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Good idea Rita! Thank you.
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Taking out the right growth was the mystery.
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I really am bad with plants Jill. Even my plastic plants die.
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Ditto!
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If only thinking would make it so! O.K. pal. I will give positive thinking a try. 🙂
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If Rhody can withstand the shock, she may survive. But even I was shocked at the damage I inflicted.
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Good advice Kate about trimming the top. It may even look less accidental and more planned.
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Well, that link made me glad I went ahead and butchered my overgrown Rhody! Many thanks Cincy.
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Thanks for the good advice Eliza. I will cut things back even more and hope for the best.
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The flowers were spent and dropping their petals… supposed to be the best time to prune. However, they did not tell me when the best time was to butcher the poor thing.
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Thanks Tasswegian1957! I think I pruned at the right time here but went overboard to say the least.
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I sympathize. I can kill anything in jig time except the Wicked Wisteria.
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😀😀
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Oh I am sure Rhody will bounce right back and her beauty will be out for all to see soon enough ❤
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if you go to my garden club page and search Rhododendron care you will see what our experts are saying about the right way to do it.
Epping Garden Club
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May your predictions come true! Thank you. 🙂
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Will try to find your page! It may tell me what I have done right or wrong. Thanks Eunice. 🙂
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Epping Garden Club 🙂
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