The flowers are hardy evergreens, but a few simple mistakes could be costing you some beautiful blooms this year
Rhododendrons are hardy evergreen plants, but a few simple mistakes could be costing you some beautiful flowers this year(Image: RandomPhotoGuy via Getty Images)
Gardeners across the country will be eagerly anticipating their flowers coming into bloom over the coming months, but depending on what you’re growing, those blooms may never actually appear. Rhododendrons are robust evergreen plants, yet a handful of simple errors could be robbing you of some stunning flowers this year.
Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish revealed that gardeners may be unwittingly sabotaging their chances of developing flowers on their rhododendrons. As the plant begins to flower in April, there are several key factors you need to bear in mind, or risk ending up with no blooms whatsoever.
Ish wrote in the video’s caption: “If you have trouble getting your rhododendron to flower it can be frustrating but also an easy fix.”
Avoid pruning rhododendrons until after the buds have flowered(Image: Getty)
The gardening expert noted that rhododendrons failing to flower is a widespread problem that many gardeners encounter. The good news, however, is that it’s straightforward to put right, reports the Express.
First and foremost, you’ll want to take a closer look at how you’re pruning the plant.
Ish said: “So, what a lot of people do wrong is they prune it too late in the season, and if you do that, you’re cutting away all the buds ready for next year’s growth. All the buds start at late autumn, early winter time, ready for this year.”
If your plant already has buds forming, there’s no need to prune it at all. However, if you’re desperate to give it a good tidy-up, Ish suggested holding off until after the buds have fully flowered.
Gardeners should also be checking that the soil is suitable for rhododendrons. It’s essential to ensure the ground isn’t too dry, even once the winter months have passed.
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Ish recommended applying a generous layer of mulch or bark on top of the existing soil and watering it in. He said: “One thing you really need to take into account here is the acidity of the soil. It likes a good acidic soil, so ericaceous compost is absolutely perfect.
“You can chuck that on top, even pine bark, that on top, and water it down to really boost it.”
When it comes to feeding the plant, the gardening expert advised that a fertiliser containing iron sulphate is the finest choice. Steer clear of multipurpose feeds as they tend to be packed with nitrogen.
Excessive nitrogen can cause flower buds to transform into leaves. Instead, during spring, opt for a slow-releasing feed, or one higher in potassium, such as tomato feed, just before the plant comes into flower.
When positioning your plants in the garden, rhododendrons thrive in a partially shaded spot, though they also appreciate sunshine. If rhododendrons are subjected to too much shade, they simply won’t flower.
For those new to growing rhododendrons, Gardeners’ World has published its own growing guide. Typically, the flowers are planted either between March and April, or later in autumn between September and December.
Pruning in March is recommended to prepare the plant for the flowering season. You can expect blooms to appear between mid-spring and summer, generally April through to July.
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