rhododendron pruning advice

hi, i don't have much knowledge about gardening - bar mowing the lawn!
i need advice about pruning my rhododendron.
(i think it is a rhododendron - the type that grows to about knee height and has purple flowers)

the plant bloomed earlier this summer.
without knowing whether it was the right thing to do, i dead-headed the plant after the flowers died.

here is the problem.
right now, there are loads of buds but they aren't blooming.
and i don't know whether i should leave it or to prune it.

i'm a little worried about the plant with winter approaching.

so please let me know what to do about those buds and the plant.

thanks.

 

Have never grown them myself but this link mite answer your questions.
RHODODENDRON BASICS: Pruning
:D

 

I also have one of the dwarf ones, purple star I think it's called. Got it in a sale in autumn (15cm pot) last year when the only leaves on the few twigs it had were yellow. I potted it up in ericaceous compost, and it's really come on, green and healthy loads of new growth, seemed to find a good spot to keep it too. Despite having plenty of foliage, it never flowered this year. I have noticed that there are buds forming too. I am led to believe this is next years growth? Is it likely that it didnt flower this year as it was recovering, and therefore there would be a good chance of flowers next year?

Sorry to hi-jack your thread kamchow, just thought as it's along the same lines

Excuse the horrible pot....as I didn't know whether it would do anything I shoved it in that one for now.....if there is a chance it will flower I will upgrade

This was taken about a month ago. There has been more growth since.

 

Hi Kamchow
A picture would be good ..
However your rhododendron should have produced flowering buds through the summer after you dead headed it .. It sounds like yours has done so .These buds will go through the winter and flower in the spring.. Rhododendrons require very little pruning..
Hope this helps
Dave

 

sorry about the delay in responding. had to get a cheap camera, cables etc.

anyhoo, here are some pics of the plant...







so, please let me know what plant this is and how to prune it (or not!).

thanks

 

It's a Rhododendron alright Kamchow - no pruning needed. If you do so then it is unlikely to flower . Rhodies flower in the spring and the buds are looking good for a good show next year.

 

ahh, great to know that. ta barnaby.

maybe by luck, maybe by seasonal change, maybe by my meddling, next year will be a great rhododendron show. it will be the first such show in 8 years !

that trunk you can see next to the bush could also be a rhododendron - the type that grows to 6 feet and has red flowers.

however, over the years when i didn't look after it, it has flowered less and less and looks to be dead - had many dead branches.

so this summer i hacked off a good chunk of it. it is now about 3 feet high. i'll post a photo in the next few days.

so, have i completely butchered the plant?
or are they hardy enough to withstand my handywork and start re-growing next year or year after?
or do i just wait and see?

again, thanks for any advice you can give.

 

Hi Kamchow,
Rhododendrons do normally regenerate very well after severe pruning so I would expect new buds to start appearing in the spring. If it was very untidy your heavy pruning would probably do it some good in the long run and it may even flower the following year.