Rhododendrons need attention and support in March so that they can quickly regenerate after a difficult winter. Their root system may be weakened after frosts and intense winds, which often occur.
It’s usually not immediately visible to the naked eye, but may have a limited ability to absorb water and minerals from the ground. So, if you want healthy and lushly blooming rhododendrons that will “boom with health” and delight with beauty during the season, you need to strengthen them in early spring with appropriate care treatments. They only take a moment and bring fantastic results.
March (early spring after the frosts have subsided and the soil has thawed) is the perfect time to fertilize rhododendrons for the first time. After winter, the bushes are hungry for additional nutrients that they need to regenerate, produce new shoots and set flower buds.
They are best for caring for rhododendrons nutrients dedicated specifically to these flowers or acid-loving plants with an acidic reaction (pH between 4 and 5.5).
In spring, choose fertilizers for rhododendrons with nitrogen, which accelerates their growth, phosphorus and potassium supporting the condition of bushes and stimulating them to bloom and develop properly. Iron and magnesium will also be useful.
How to fertilize rhododendrons in spring? Sprinkle the conditioner around the bush, but not directly at the trunk, and mix it gently with the top layer of soil. Then water the plant thoroughly. You can apply the second portion of the preparation in May, after flowering.
In addition to ready-made fertilizers, you can also use natural methods of feeding rhododendrons. This is a good solution horn meal, which is a good source of nitrogen. They can also be a good addition to compost .
However, spring fertilization of rhododendrons is not everything. To further strengthen them, remember to mulch the bushes with pine bark. This will help the plants because it will limit them development of weeds around them.
It will also protect against the negative effects of extreme temperatures: overheating in summer or freezing in winter additional support in maintaining the humidity and acidic pH of the substrate.
Mulching rhododendrons with bark is not difficult. As a rule, it is enough to spread the material once a year in a layer of about 5 cm, leaving a few centimeters of free space around their trunk.
Also remember the basic rules for growing rhododendrons. These are acid-loving plants that prefer permeable and humus-rich soil with moderate humidity. However, they cannot tolerate limestone soil.
The ideal location for rhododendrons is a semi-shaded place, sheltered from strong winds. In spring and summer, you also need to remember to water rhododendrons. Especially during periods of drought, because these shrubs have a rather shallow root system.
