hello - we have a rhododendron - it is shaped like a tree and normally flow : Grows on You

Hampshire, United Kingdom

hello - we have a rhododendron - it is shaped like a tree and normally flowers lovely mid-pink blooms fairly late after the more standard purple ones in our road. However this year it has taken a turn for the worse and now more than half of it looks dead? The buds never opened on those bits and the leaves are brown whereas the part that did bloom is green. Help! This plant is a central feature in our very small front garden...is it dead ...or can it be retrieved and if so what do I need to do to help it get better. I look forward to an answer.

29 Aug, 2010

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Answers

Doctorbob1

Anne, cut the dead parts off as close to the end of the branch as you can. Treat the cuts with Arbrex. Get a large stake and ties to hold up the large green branch, which with care can be pulled upright a little at a time, fork lightly round the root area, cover with erica compost, feed with sequestrene of iron/maxicrop, use rain water in the mixture.

29 Aug, 2010

Bulbaholic

Most of it certainly does appear to be dead Anne, but I can't think why it would have gone like this. It must be a very old tree to have reached that size. Doctorbob's advice is a good as any but your front garden is still going to look very different. I certainly wouldn't remove it just yet as it will take a long time for suitable replacement to fill the gap.

29 Aug, 2010

Stjohntongue

Follow Doctorbobs advice and water more often during the summer.
What a shame as it must have looked magnificient in full bloom. So sorry for your loss.

29 Aug, 2010

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