Rhody Care Time

You know, we get asked by a lot of Northwest gardeners, "When is the best time to prune rhododendrons and azaleas?" Well its just after they bloom. That way, the plants have time to form flower buds for next year. If you wait too long, you'll be cutting off next year's blooms.

Now first, start with a good pruner, like a by-pass type. And remember, a sharp pruner is a lot easier to work with. After pruning, use a good rhododendron and evergreen food, something like 4-12-10.

And do you see notches in the rhododendron leaves? If so, this is root weevil damage from last year. Now, root weevils live in the soil during the day and then crawl up the plant at night and chew on the leaves. For control, use either Bug-B-Gone Dust or Orthene Spray.

So that's three things you should do after rhodies and azaleas bloom: prune, fertilize, and kill off root weevils.

While much of the information in these tips is applicable in several gardening zones/climates, some of the plants and timing suggested are best suited to the Northwest, generally in the mild/wet growing regions found along the I-5 corridor. You should make appropriate adjustments or consult local gardening experts in regions whose climates differ from this area of the Northwest.