rhododenron help

Hello all
Planted a rhododendron lasy year but its looking poorly, planted it in ericaceous compost and the past three weeks ive been feeding it ericaceous soluble feed weekly. I'll try and upload a photo. the stalks to the right of the photo look as though their dead. Do I remove these now? Any thoughts or tips greatly appreciated.

 

I'd remove any dead stems.
Wondering if it might have dried out a bit last summer?

Doesn't look particularly yellow, so dont think it chlorosis.

 

Can you post a closer picture of the base of the plant?

Is the soil higher than it was when in its pot? It should be at the same level.

I'd hold off on feeding it any more as you could be doing more damage than good.

 

Hello merleworld, Pete
I'll remove the dead stems and hold off on feeding, the soil may be a bit higher so ive included a few pics for your judgement, thanks again to you both,

 

To add to the good advice already given, it looks like the soil is very stony? Rhododendron like peaty friable soil as they have fibrous surface roots which resent too much disturbance. With your grass being so close to the plant maybe the grass is taking up any nutrients and you probably have to weed around the plants roots to stop the grass encroaching which won't be doing the plant any favours either.
Personally if it were possible I would lift the plant and replant it in a flowerbed away from the grass and replant higher than it is currently planted. Add, again if possible a good bag full of peat to the planting hole and mix with the soil. Try and find an area which gets lots of sun and sheltered from the worst wind. Many people think Rhododendron like deep shade, some do but most need sun to flower well especially in areas like yours in Northern Ireland and mine in Scotland.
The brown leaves could be caused by either poor drainage or cold/severe wind if you live near the sea. Some Rhododendrons are not that forgiving re climate, especially yellow flowering ones. They dislike strong wind and exposed ground unless they are the tough varieties. Do you know the variety you have? I see a label on the plant maybe it gives details?
I grow dozens of Rhododendron and Azaleas, none have even been fed and they flower wonderfully if the frost doesn't get them. As long as they get plenty of moisture and an acidic good textured growing medium they REALLY don't need feeding despite what the manufacturers of the feed may like to tell you! The reason they can't cope with Alkali conditions IS because they evolved to cope with b all food and became experts at taking up Calcium so much so that if planted in a calcium rich Alkali soil they overdose on it and get sick. The majority of these plants originated from the foothills of the Himalayas and China and didn't get fed there!

 

hello Silu and thank you for your very informative reply. The variety is a Marie Fortie, rhododendron hybride. When is the best time to lift it and replant?

 

that all makes sense, silu. Although I did see several examples of rhododendron in full light and looking stunning, but possibly a moderate exposure to the sun is better. And mine has a lot of brown leaf hand hasn't grown since at least one year, when I bought it.