Rhododendrons : "Dead-head" or not bother?

I've just done one of mine, took me half an hour and I filled a bucket with dead blooms.

 

Yes, I think that too. A bit of a pain and you have to do it before the new shoots grow too long and get in the way.
The worst to do do are the azaleas, must confess some I don't bother with.

 

If they are small and easy - yes. Otherwise I wouldn't bother. Most Rhodies in big gardens are too big to be able to do it - and I don't think they suffer.

 

I think it does no harm one way or the other. It looks a mess though, at least that's why I do it really.

 

I bought I rhody last year. I planted into the ground and back filled it with ericaeous soil. Late last year I noticed flower buds coming on it and got quite excited for spring to come.
However, once March appeared the leaves started turning yellow, the flower buds started going brown.
I have pulled it out the ground now as the leaves all fell off.
Can anyone recommend a Rhody for a small garden and also some advice on how to grow them.

Thanks.

 

I have a small rhodi in a gorilla tub which i use to disguise the septic tank cover. The small rhodies tend to flower earlier so the blooms can get caught by late frosts as mine did this year. I seem to be yapping on about watering every post I answer at the moment but we have had very dry weather and rhodis are very shallow rooted. I always have to have the sprinkler going here for them as my soil is so dry. I am a great believer in peat. I know it's not supposed to be environmentally friendly ( if you saw the peat bogs in the south of Ireland it wouldn't bother you). It keeps the soil acid and also helps to retain moisture. I am not sure if you can still buy the big bags of sphagum moss but if you can I would recommend it. If not use some peat based compost. Varieties? It's a matter of personal favourite colours and size. Plenty to choose from.

 

I'll admit too that I go on a bit about watering, I've got some more stuff to add to my "pop up sprinklers" thread in a bit.

I agree that the frost didn't help with the rhodos. We bought two new one's last year. Ones in a big pot on the patio and the other in the side bed. The one in the pot did very well, but the other was affected by frost and some of the leaves and buds died off so we've only two blooms this year. But there's lots of new growth coming.
I'll agree about acid soil. To help mine each week when I purge the koi pool drain, the bit that's left in the bottom of the sump that the waste pump won't remove. I use a wet n' dry vac to clear, about three gallons. Fish poo is acidic, so I empty the vac in the borders, the azaleas love it.

 

There might be a market for that.:rotfl: I'd buy it.:thumb: