If you want to ensure they thrive, rhododendron aftercare is key – and there’s one important job everyone should be doing after flowering
If you want to ensure they thrive, rhododendron aftercare is key – and there’s one important job everyone should be doing after flowering(Image: Alex Manders via Getty Images)
Rhododendrons are a fantastic addition to any garden, providing vibrant colour and a breath-taking floral display when in full bloom. Growing them guarantees a spectacular show of flowers come summertime.
However, if you want to ensure they return year after year with an equally impressive display, there’s a vital task that every gardener should be undertaking. Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish recently shared that the ideal time to give your rhododendrons some much-needed attention is immediately after they’ve finished flowering.
Ish said: “If your rhododendron has started flowering, that’s incredibly exciting, but directly after its flowering is quite an important job. Now, rhododendrons, or rhoddy dendies, as I call them, have these absolutely gorgeous spring flowers.
You want to trim just above the healthy buds, giving it a light prune(Image: Getty Images)
“I mean, there are an absolute abundance of them, as well.”
To give them the best chance of flourishing again next spring, Ish recommended a very common gardening task to help them thrive – a decent prune shortly after flowering, reports the Mirror.
Once the blooms begin to fade, a light trim is in order, though it’s important not to go overboard.
To gauge exactly how much needs to be cut back, Ish advised examining the plant’s stem and identifying any healthy buds that are sprouting. Once located, you should trim the stem just above these healthy buds.
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Resist the urge to prune into the woody part of the stems, as this risks preventing flowers from re-growing the following year. Ish explained: “If you’re wondering why you should do this directly after flowering, well, the answer is: rhododendrons start their flowering process from summer, all the way through until next year.
“So if you cut this at the end of summer, chances are you’re cutting off all the buds that are ready to go in spring next year. So you want to make sure you preserve those.
“Get it done early, and as a result, it’ll develop new growth and even more flowers, just like this one. So if you want beautiful flowers every year for your rhododendron, now you know what you’re doing.”
The Royal Horticultural Society noted that rhododendrons typically require minimal pruning beyond removing dead wood and deadheading spent flowers where practical. During late winter, Gardeners’ World experts recommend removing any dead or damaged wood while the plant remains dormant.
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