Is this rhododendron dying?

[d.kurz]

I HOPE NOT!! It is really big and gives me great privacy on my screened in porch. What do you think? Is there hope??

It's looking really sparse and it only partially bloomed.

 

[marydmjj]

I don't think it's dying. It looks traumatized to me. Did you have an unusually hot summer? Or maybe really-really hard winter? I moved a small rhodie last year and the ends did the same thing. It is fine this year though.

 

[d.kurz]

Thanks, Mary. We did have a pretty cold winter compared to some more recent winters. Also quite a bit of snow. I hope you are right! I would really hate to lose this beauty!

 

[Mamu]

d.Kurz Mine looks the same. Last summers drought put a lot of stress on flowering shrubs. Then along came a winter with so much ice and snow. Most of the damage is winter burn. Try to prune as much of the damaged shrub as you can and make sure it has ample water through the summer and early fall. It should come back healthier next year.

 

[d.kurz]

Thanks, Mamu. Pruning? Identify the sick branch and cut it off where? As deep in as I can get? Or as little as possible?

 

[Tulirose]

Hi Dorothy!

My rhododendrum also looks pretty pathetic this year too and I figured it was because of the harsh winter. My mind doesn't remember the summer drought - too far back for me to remember! HaHa

You can prune back to a point as little or as much as you would like. Here is a great site that Snowwark posted for someone else regarding forsythia pruning but it has a great read about shaping and pruning a rhododendrum.

Check Out These Pruning Tips for Rhododendrums!

Just remember - don't wait too long to prune because you will cut off next year's flowers.

 

[d.kurz]

Hi there Rosemary!!

I'll check out the tips, and thanks! One of the reasons I was so worried about the rhody was that I saw a LOT of really healthy looking ones in my area!

OT: Are you watching Amazing Race? We are having a good discussion of it on the CB and you'd only be a week behind!! There's a Fantasy league too!

 

[Snowwark]

I certainly hope it will be okay, Dorothy! It's huge!!!

 

[DebºoºS]

It looks like it'll be ok. Could've been so many things. The severe winter, too dry, too wet or too much wind. I'd trim off the dead leaves and feed then deadhead back after it blooms. It must be beautiful when it's in bloom those buds are huge. Good luck

 

[d.kurz]

Thanks for the replies. It's sort of blooming right now. Although it's not as glorious as it usually is, it still is pretty. What do you mean by deadhead? Probably has nothing to do with Gerry Garcia, right??

 

[DebºoºS]

With a little Garcia playing in the background... not......

You simply snap off the dead flowers with your fingers. It's best to wait till the flowers are truely and most sincerely dead to get a good snap. Next years flowers and growth will come from what's left after you take off the dried bloom. Hard to describe but if you look at the way it grows you'll see what I mean.