How to grow rhododendrons in the Leningrad region?

Deciduous azaleas (rhododendrons) - planting and caring in the garden

Deciduous azaleas, also known as rhododendrons, thrive and bloom well in the garden when properly planted and cared for. Including in the middle lane and more northern regions, for example, in the Leningrad region and in Karelia. Although, until now, many gardeners do not dare to grow these beautiful plants, considering them capricious, slow-growing and not hardy enough.

And in vain. After all, the first deciduous azalea hybrids were bred in Russia by E.L. Regel, even before 1917, by crossing wild Japanese azaleas and Dutch garden varieties. And today there are many more modern varieties of winter-hardy deciduous rhododendrons.

Such rhododendrons feel great in gardens in the Moscow region without shelter for the winter. The pink, orange, red and yellow balls of rhododendron flowers appear in the spring, when the buds of the trees are just beginning to bloom. 4-6 funnel-shaped flowers are formed from one flower bud. Each flower is 6-8 cm in diameter. Flowering lasts about 3 weeks, but all summer long rhododendrons are very decorative, thanks to the beautiful greenery. And in autumn, the leaves acquire red tones, becoming a special decoration of the garden.

Landing

When planting rhododendrons, soil is very important. These plants need acidic, nutritious soil, peat-heather. Clayy heavy soils for growing these plants in the garden are not at all suitable. To plant a rhododendron, they dig a hole 50 cm deep and 70 cm in diameter. Half the hole is filled with sphagnum, another quarter with leafy humus mixed with loose nutritious acidic soil. If your site has just such a soil, then you can use the soil taken out when digging a hole.

The water under the plant should not stagnate, therefore, when planting a rhododendron, drainage is done with a drain. In deciduous azaleas, the roots are shallow and shallow, and the ground under them should always be moist. For better moisture retention, the soil around the bush must be mulched with peat or leaf humus, a layer of mulch is taken 6-10 cm thick.

Top dressing

Fertilizing garden rhododendrons has its own characteristics. The use of simple nitrogen fertilizers for these plants is ineffective, they are responsive to feeding for plants growing on acidic soils. Fertilizers need to be applied at the beginning of flowering. If you do this earlier, the flower buds may begin to crumble. Fertilizers should not be applied and too late, "before winter", this makes azaleas less winter-hardy. The latest date for feeding rhododendrons in the garden is two months before the onset of frost.

Transfer

It is best to replant deciduous rhododendrons in the spring. Moreover, you can do this even after the beginning of flowering. The second transplantation date is in August and early September.But it is undesirable to transplant them at a time when the kidneys are developing next year.

Planting depth is maintained the same as before transplanting. The transplanted bush is surrounded by a small, about 10 cm tall, side made of moss and needles. Its purpose is to trap snow in winter, which will protect the roots of the plant from frost.

Preparing for winter

For the winter, the branches of the deciduous rhododendron are bent to the ground, but in such a way that the buds do not touch the ground. You also need to provide the plant during the wintering period with conditions that prevent stagnation of cold snow water and the formation of ice.

Reproduction of deciduous azaleas

Unlike many plants, deciduous rhododendrons are easily seed-propagated. In Regel's azalea, they ripen by mid-September. Sowing is done in early spring. Germination of seeds should take place in a cool room at a temperature of 10-15 degrees, otherwise there is a high risk of death of seedlings. The seeds are sown over the surface in a mixture of peat or coniferous soil and sand. Then they are pressed into the ground with a plank or just with your finger. From above, moisten the soil with seeds from a spray bottle.

When 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, they dive. For the summer, the plants are placed in a ventilated greenhouse, sheltered from the direct sun, for the winter in the first year they are covered with sphagnum or needles. Rhododendrons grown from seeds bloom in the fifth or tenth year.

Garden rhododendrons are also propagated by cuttings. Cuttings are harvested in July, when the buds of the next year are laid. 3-4 leaves are left on the cuttings, cutting them in half. It is very important to be sure to leave the leaves on top of the cutting.

Before planting, the lower ends of the cuttings are immersed in a solution of a root formation stimulator (heteroauxin), then the cuttings are placed for rooting in a mixture of peat and sand in a ratio of 4: 1. It is advisable to arrange bottom heating. The easiest option is to raise the containers with cuttings above the ground on a bench or specially made supports so that the soil can be heated from below with warm air.

Rooting is slow. Weak roots are formed on cuttings only towards the end of summer. Cuttings rooted in a container or box should be planted in the ground early, for the winter they are placed in cool conditions, but at a positive temperature (+1 - 4) degrees, for example, in a cellar. If the cuttings immediately rooted in the open field, they can successfully overwinter there, but they need to organize a shelter, for example, from sphagnum. But they need to cover the plants with the onset of stable frosts, in warm weather in the fall, buds can be supported on covered cuttings.

The next year, the plants do not need to be replanted, at least until the end of growth.

And now about the simplest and most effective way of propagating deciduous azalea - layering. This process takes place in early spring. Use last year's shoots. They are pulled over with copper wire and buried in, fixing them in the ground using special hooks or improvised materials: slingshots or criss-crossing sticks. The land around you must not forget to moisturize regularly throughout the summer. For better rooting, once every 20-30 days, you can water the layering with a heteroauxin solution. Separation from the parent plant is carried out only the next year in the fall. But a new azalea blooms in the spring of next year.

The material was prepared using the article by K. Samofal, Science and Life, No. 5-6 1992.

Rhododendron - planting and care

Most of the rhododendrons are heat-loving plants, so for the Middle Lane it is better to choose frost-resistant species. These are the Canadian and Japanese species, the Schlippenbach and Vazhei rhododendrons, the yellow rhododendron and the low Kamchatka. Certain plant varieties can also be resistant to low temperatures, but it is still more difficult for a novice gardener to care for.

Where to plant

First of all, you need to decide where it is best to plant the rhododendron.The health of the bush and the abundance of flowering depend on the choice of place. So, despite the thermophilicity, plants do not tolerate the bright midday sun - moderate lighting is suitable for them. Therefore, they need to be planted in shaded areas, best of all from the north or northeast side of the house.

It is also worth refraining from landing in open, windy areas. If there is no other place, you can fence the bushes on one or both sides with decorative screens and high hedges. This will protect the flowers from the wind and will not spoil the look of the garden.

Rhododendrons look beautiful between trees, but you need to be careful here - the constant shadow also harms the plant. It is better to plant them outside the shadow zone from the crown, but, again, from the north side. Given the superficial root system of rhododendrons, they will not get along with spruce, linden, birch, aspen, maple, elm or chestnut - these trees will take all the moisture. But trees with a deep root system - oaks and pines - will be happy with a floral addition. They also get along well with apple, cherry, pear or plum rhododendrons.

How to plant correctly

Not only the choice of location is important, but also the understanding of how to properly plant the rhododendron. So, they should not be placed either too deep in the pit or too shallow. You can not both deepen the root collar, and leave a part of the root system on the surface.

A planting hole for an adult plant is dug with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 40. A substrate is laid in it, depending on what kind of soil is needed. So, for rhododendrons, acidic soil is required, therefore, a mixture is prepared from high (acidic) peat, loam and pine litter in equal parts. The substrate is poured onto the bottom of the pit, it is watered well, the rhododendron is transferred from the container and the remaining free space is filled with the remaining mixture. Again, everything is well watered and about 5 cm of mulch is poured on top - it will retain moisture for a long time.

For a young two-year-old bush, the pit can be made smaller - about 30 by 30 cm, and after two or three years a ditch 15 centimeters wide and about 20 centimeters deep is dug around the perimeter of this hole, which is filled with the same substrate.

But such small plants suffer greatly from gusts of wind, so it is better to plant them not in open spaces. Then, after a few years, when the bushes get stronger, they can be moved to another place. In addition, rhododendrons easily tolerate transplanting, and due to their compact root system, they are very easy to dig out.

It is best to plant the rhododendron in the spring - then the plant will have time to take root before winter. At the same time, they can be planted already in bloom, the main thing is to remove some of the inflorescences so that the plant does not have to spend a lot of energy on maintaining the flowers.

How to water properly

Before watering rhododendrons, there is one point to consider. Paradoxically, on the one hand, they need to be watered abundantly, and on the other hand, to prevent stagnation of water. Therefore, the soil should be loose, but if the water does not leave for a long time in the spring, you need to organize good drainage. Also, rhododendrons grow remarkably in high beds, raised above the level of the spring flood by 10-15 cm.

For the same reason, the substrate in which the bushes were planted necessarily includes loam. Otherwise, peat and pine litter in the first dry period are collected in a lump, which is almost impossible to soak so as not to flood or damage the roots.

Water is needed soft, preferably rain or melt. At worst, a running one is suitable, but by no means a tap. Chlorine and other sediment-forming impurities can damage the plant. Also, periodically, the leaves need to be sprayed with water. Do not be alarmed - you will not have to bypass each bush with a spray bottle, a special nozzle on the hose with the "rain" mode is enough.

Fertilizing rhododendrons is best done in spring and autumn.In the spring, they use either organic fertilizer - rotted manure, or mineral fertilizers - special fertilizers for rhododendrons, or any nitrogen fertilizers. In the fall, you need to fertilize with superphosphates. At the same time, in any case, the bushes are first watered well, and only then diluted fertilizers are applied. This helps keep the roots from "burning".

Pruning and wintering

In the question of how to care for rhododendron bushes, pruning is not the last place. So that the bush continues to bloom violently, you need to cut off the wilted inflorescences before the formation of seeds. This saves plant resources and stimulates the formation of more flowers for the next season.

To form a beautiful ball, pruning is carried out in early March. Young shoots are cut over dormant buds. If you need to update old bushes or reduce an overgrown crown, only cut off shoots 2-4 cm thick (under the fork). The cut site must be treated with oil paint or "garden varnish" - this will prevent infection. The entire bush cannot be cut off for renewal - in the first year, one half is cut, in the second - the second. Otherwise, the plant will recover much longer.

For the winter, you need to cover only evergreens - immediately after the first frost. At above-zero temperatures, the bushes can rot. The shelter is made of white covering material, lightly tied with twine. The ventilation holes are left not only from the bottom, but also from the top - the bottom one will almost certainly be covered with snow. Deciduous species tolerate frost easily, their only weak point is the root collar. It is covered with a fifteen-centimeter layer of mulch (peat, foliage).

Despite the apparent complexity, even an inexperienced gardener can take care of rhododendrons. With a little time, you can provide your garden with bright colors for the whole summer!

Rhododendron care

"Rhododendron" translated from Greek means "rosewood". In the North-West and Leningrad region, there is still an opinion about the "whims" of these plants: it is believed that they are susceptible to freezing in winter, and in the summer they allegedly require some kind of special care. I had the opportunity to dispel such opinions by creating in the Leningrad region more than a dozen gardens with massive plantings of rhododendrons.

There is probably no need to go into the specific details of these plants, because experts have studied quite extensively, characterized and described all types and varieties of rhododendrons.

The key to success in growing rhododendrons in the Leningrad Region is the selection of winter-hardy varieties, adherence to agrotechnological techniques for planting these plants and caring for them.

My experience with plants gives a consistent, positive characterization of the Rhododendron carawbiense “Grandiflorum”. This variety is very winter-hardy, has a good annual growth of 10-15 cm, and has dark green leaves.

Choosing a landing site

So, let's start by choosing a landing site. Rhododendron feels comfortable in partial shade, i.e. somewhere under the cover of a coniferous forest, we must take this into account, as well as the perspective of the entire landscape composition. We prepare pits or trenches for filling with plant soil.

These plants cannot stand the direct rays of the scorching sun. I would also like to remind you that when choosing planting sites near houses and buildings, it is necessary to take into account the likelihood of snow masses falling from the roofs, which leads to the breaking of branches and the death of plants.

Single seat

A place for planting rhododendrons needs to be prepared not for each plant separately, but a single one. Why is soil sampling carried out in a continuous way for the entire group of plants, to a depth of at least one meter (the root system of rhododendrons should feel comfortable).

Along the lateral contours of such a pit, it is necessary to lay a screen made of ecological materials so that the root system near growing large trees does not take moisture and nutrients from our plants.

Soil preparation

After the planting sites are ready, it is necessary to prepare an acidic loose soil with a high humus content. It is necessary to add needles, forest floor and cones to sour peat.

At the bottom of the planting pit or trench, we lay a half timber (broken brick) with a layer of 20-30 cm, then a layer of sand of a coarse fraction of 10-15 cm - this is done to improve soil and hydrological conditions and improve soil aeration. Further, we fill it all with a mixture of sour peat, humus soils, needles and leaves. Add pine and spruce bark to the top layer. The soil should be loose and ventilated.

During planting, care should be taken not to deepen the root collar. If rhododendrons are planted along buildings where there is a possibility of snow sliding from the roofs in winter, I recommend installing collapsible frames for the winter, as shown in the photo.

Top dressing and care

The root system of plants is not deep, so the trunk circle cannot be loosened. In late March - early April, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium sulfate 15-20 gna bush) should be carried out. Potash and phosphate fertilizers should be applied in mid-June. You cannot fertilize plants at the end of summer, so as not to provoke their growth. Lime and chlorine should be avoided. In dry and hot weather, the bushes are watered abundantly using rainwater. In the spring, it is necessary to mulch the near-trunk circle with pine and spruce bark (with a layer of 2-3 cm).

In the feeding zone of the plant root system, there should be no lime, ash, clay, because this will change the acidity of the soil towards an alkaline environment, and this will affect the vital activity of plants. The ph of the soil should be 4.5-5.

During planting, it is recommended to make a 10% aqueous solution with the antistress drug "extrasol". For 10-15 minutes, hold the root ball in a bath with a solution.

Rhododendrons are very moisture-loving plants and are sensitive to drying out of the soil, therefore, special attention should be paid to watering, especially during the budding period. Watering with collected rainwater has a very beneficial effect on plants, but rhododendrons cannot be watered with cold and chlorinated water.

If the plants are exposed to fungal diseases, the diseased leaves must be removed, and the bushes must be sprayed with "Kaptan" or "Fogmarit 25W". If the leaves turn yellow-brown and the plants stagnate, then this is chlorosis - a disease caused by an excess of lime in the soil. In this case, it is better to transplant the plant. Elongated and bare shoots are shortened in April. Radical pruning is carried out in an adult plant once every 3-4 years.

Before the beginning of winter, the bushes must be well shed with water (on thawed soil).

For the first winter, it is recommended to cover the rhododendrons with non-woven materials - spunbond, lutrasil, etc. Better to use wireframe shelters. In spring, it is necessary to open the plants in several stages: within 10-15 days, in cloudy weather - in order to avoid sunburn. By following the above recommendations, you can avoid the problems associated with growing these plants. Success is guaranteed.

Text and photo: Nikolay Voronkov, landscape architect, designer, gardener

Landscape solutions # 1 (12)

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The pride of gardeners, both amateurs and professionals, is flowering rhododendrons from the Heather family (another name is “pink” trees). These beautiful plants grow mainly in the Leningrad region and Karelia, as well as in the Moscow region. They are quite capricious, do not tolerate frosty weather and require special care in the summer.

To grow "pink trees" on your land plot, you need to know all the intricacies of choosing their seeds, planting features, rules of care, feeding, as well as protection from pests and diseases. And how to do it correctly? What needs to be done to make the plant happy with its flowering for more than one year? This article will tell about all this.

Popular varieties of rhododendron for the Moscow region and the Leningrad region

Rhododendrons can be divided into several types:

• semi-evergreen;
• evergreen;
• deciduous.

In nature, there are more than 1300 species and more than 30 thousand.varieties of rhododendrons. Not all of them are able to withstand the climatic conditions of the Russian Federation. In the Moscow region and in the north-west of the country, you can find the following types of rose trees:

• Daursky;
• Tree-like;

Tree rhododendron

• Yellow (Pontic Azalea);
• Kamchatka;
• Canadian;
• Fori (short-fruited);

Rhododendron Fori

• Largest;
• Large-leaved;
• Katevbinsky;

Rhododendron Katevbinsky

• Ledebour;
• Makino;
• Small-leaved;
• Dense;

Rhododendron Dense

• Pink;
• Smirnova;
• Schlippenbach;

Rhododendron Schlippenbach

• Yakushimansky;
• Japanese.

All of them tolerate cold weather well in winter and hot weather in summer. Every gardener is capable of growing a rhododendron at home, it is only necessary to create all the conditions for its growth, development and reproduction.

Choosing and preparing a place for a garden plant

The ideal place for planting rhododendron is partial shade, it is most suitable for the active growth of trees and shrubs. It is better to plant them under conifers (they will become a natural shelter from the heat).

Important! Pink trees should not be planted in open areas in direct sunlight, as they may simply die.

In order for rhododendrons to please with their lush flowering and lush greenery for more than one year, it is necessary to properly prepare the soil. It is best to use moist acidic soil for planting with the addition of pine or spruce cones, a mixture of fallen leaves and needles that can be found in the forest.

Shrub feels comfortable in partial shade

Arrangement of the pit and planting in the ground

It is not necessary to plant plants in every separate hole, but in one common one. To prepare a landing site, you must:

1. Remove a layer of earth 1 m deep in the desired area (this is done so that the root system is in free space).
2. Cover the side sections of the prepared recess with a special screen made of natural materials (it will prevent the penetration of moisture and various dressings into ordinary soil).
3. Cover the bottom by 25-30 cm with pieces of broken brick or large rubble, then cover it with a layer of sand of 10-15 cm.
4. Fill the pit with prepared soil.
5. Lay out pieces of coniferous bark on top.

Planting culture

When the place is ready, you can start planting the plant.

Care rules

Rhododendron is very fond of water, so gardeners pay special attention to watering it in the summer, as well as during the formation of flower buds. For these purposes, collected rainwater is used, since tap water harms plants.

It is very important to regularly water the rhododendron

Do not forget about replacing the coniferous bark, which decays under the influence of moisture in the autumn-winter period. It is best to make a replacement in the spring, when the plant is just starting to wake up. To protect the rosewood from frost, it must be tightly covered with spunbond, lutrasil or other available non-woven materials.

Recommendations for feeding rhododendron and fertilizing the soil

The period of fertilizing the soil and feeding the plant is the beginning of spring and mid-summer. Experts recommend using nitrogen fertilizers in early March, but phosphorus and potassium fertilizers - at the end of June (when the rhododendron fades and young shoots appear).

Important! Another option for ideal feeding is cow dung. It must be mixed with rainwater (ratio 1:15), infused for 7-10 days, and then add this mixture to the root.

Breeding features

Rhododendrons are propagated in two ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• vaccination;
• dividing the root of the bush.

Rhododendron seeds

For propagation by seeds you need:

1. Prepare the substrate (mix 3 parts of peat soil with 1 part of sand).
2. Plant the seeds, sprinkle them with sand.
3. Cover with glass.
4. Place in a bright room.
5. Water as the soil dries.

When the seeds germinate, young bores need to be transplanted into another container (larger diameter).During the first year of growth, they should be in greenhouse conditions, and then they should be planted in open ground.

Preparation of rhododendron cuttings

For propagation by cuttings you will need:

1. Cut the shoots into cuttings of 5-8 cm.
2. Remove leaves from the bottom edge of the cuttings.
3. For 12-16 hours, place them in a growth stimulating substance (you can find it in the store).
4. Then plant in a peat-sand mixture (3: 1), cover with polyethylene.
5. Grow cuttings in peat soil at a temperature of 8-12 degrees.
6. In spring, plant in open ground for further germination.

Pests and diseases that affect rhododendron

Common pests are scale insects, spider mites, snails, slugs, weevils, rhododendron flies, mealybugs and bedbugs. To rid the plant of annoying creatures, it is necessary to treat it with special chemicals that can be found in a phyto-pharmacy.

Rhododenron leaves affected by bedbugs

Well, among the diseases you can most often find - fungal diseases (cancer, rust, leaf spot). To rid the culture of spotting and rust, it is treated with copper sulfate. In case of cancer, all affected shoots must be cut off. For preventive purposes, experts recommend using Bordeaux liquid (treatment is carried out in early spring and late autumn).

Of course, growing a rhododendron in your garden is quite difficult. But if you nevertheless decide on this, then such a beautiful plant will delight with its exuberant color for more than one year. Try it and you will definitely succeed!

Flowering of rhododendron in the Moscow region: video

Rhododendron in the garden: photo

"Rhododendron" translated from Greek means "rosewood". In the North-West and Leningrad region, there is still an opinion about the "whims" of these plants: it is believed that they are susceptible to freezing in winter, and in the summer they allegedly require some kind of special care. I had the opportunity to dispel such opinions by creating in the Leningrad region more than a dozen gardens with massive plantings of rhododendrons.

 There is probably no need to go into the specific details of these plants, because experts have studied quite extensively, characterized and described all types and varieties of rhododendrons.

The key to success in growing rhododendrons in the Leningrad Region is the selection of winter-hardy varieties, adherence to agrotechnological techniques for planting these plants and caring for them.

My experience with plants gives a consistent, positive characterization of the Rhododendron carawbiense “Grandiflorum”. This variety is very winter-hardy, has a good annual growth of 10-15 cm, and has dark green leaves.

Choosing a landing site

So, let's start by choosing a landing site. Rhododendron feels comfortable in partial shade, i.e. somewhere under the cover of a coniferous forest, we must take this into account, as well as the perspective of the entire landscape composition. We prepare pits or trenches for filling with plant soil.

These plants cannot stand the direct rays of the scorching sun. I would also like to remind you that when choosing planting sites near houses and buildings, it is necessary to take into account the likelihood of snow masses falling from the roofs, which leads to the breaking of branches and the death of plants.

Single seat

A place for planting rhododendrons needs to be prepared not for each plant separately, but a single one. Why is soil sampling carried out in a continuous way for the entire group of plants, to a depth of at least one meter (the root system of rhododendrons should feel comfortable).

Along the lateral contours of such a pit, it is necessary to lay a screen made of ecological materials so that the root system near growing large trees does not take moisture and nutrients from our plants.

Soil preparation

After the planting sites are ready, it is necessary to prepare an acidic loose soil with a high humus content.It is necessary to add needles, forest floor and cones to sour peat.

At the bottom of the planting pit or trench, we lay a half timber (broken brick) with a layer of 20-30 cm, then a layer of sand of a coarse fraction of 10-15 cm - this is done to improve soil and hydrological conditions and improve soil aeration. Further, we fill it all with a mixture of sour peat, humus soils, needles and leaves. Add pine and spruce bark to the top layer. The soil should be loose and ventilated.

During planting, care should be taken not to deepen the root collar. If rhododendrons are planted along buildings where there is a possibility of snow sliding from the roofs in winter, I recommend installing collapsible frames for the winter, as shown in the photo.

Top dressing and care

The root system of plants is not deep, so the trunk circle cannot be loosened. In late March - early April, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium sulfate 15-20 gna bush) should be carried out. Potash and phosphate fertilizers should be applied in mid-June. You cannot fertilize plants at the end of summer, so as not to provoke their growth. Lime and chlorine should be avoided. In dry and hot weather, the bushes are watered abundantly using rainwater. In the spring, it is necessary to mulch the near-trunk circle with pine and spruce bark (with a layer of 2-3 cm).

In the feeding zone of the plant root system, there should be no lime, ash, clay, because this will change the acidity of the soil towards an alkaline environment, and this will affect the vital activity of plants. The ph of the soil should be 4.5-5.

During planting, it is recommended to make a 10% aqueous solution with the antistress drug "extrasol". For 10-15 minutes, hold the root ball in a bath with a solution.

Rhododendrons are very moisture-loving plants and are sensitive to drying out of the soil, therefore, special attention should be paid to watering, especially during the budding period. Watering with collected rainwater has a very beneficial effect on plants, but rhododendrons cannot be watered with cold and chlorinated water.

If the plants are exposed to fungal diseases, the diseased leaves must be removed, and the bushes must be sprayed with "Kaptan" or "Fogmarit 25W". If the leaves turn yellow-brown and the plants stagnate, then this is chlorosis - a disease caused by an excess of lime in the soil. In this case, it is better to transplant the plant. Elongated and bare shoots are shortened in April. Radical pruning is carried out in an adult plant once every 3-4 years.

Before the beginning of winter, the bushes must be well shed with water (on thawed soil).

For the first winter, it is recommended to cover the rhododendrons with non-woven materials - spunbond, lutrasil, etc. Better to use wireframe shelters. In the spring, it is necessary to open the plants in several stages: within 10-15 days, in cloudy weather - to avoid sunburn. By following the above recommendations, you can avoid the problems associated with growing these plants. Success is guaranteed.

Text and photo: Nikolay Voronkov, landscape architect, designer, gardener

Landscape solutions №1 (12) 2012

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In order for a rhododendron to grow beautiful, planting and care must be followed exactly with the requirements that it needs. Such a flower has a fairly wide genus, which includes a deciduous, evergreen, semi-evergreen species, and even trees are found, not shrubs.

An amazing picture of the flowering of the rhododendron bush in early spring.

Rhododendron was brought to us from the Northern Hemisphere. It is in the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Japan (Japanese rhododendron) and North America that this plant grows perfectly, since all climatic conditions are acceptable for it.Now the rhododendron flower can be found even in the Leningrad region, since it is not as whimsical as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to choose the right plant for yourself and know how to care for it.

Varieties of rhododendron

This plant has more than 18 species that have managed to take root in our country. Some of them look like neat bushes that will decorate any room, while others have more weighty dimensions, which means that growing them will require open space.

Let's get acquainted with the variety of rhododendron, which can be represented by the following species:

1. Daurian rhododendron.

This type can reach heights of up to 2 m, has short leaves and a May flowering time. Daurian rhododendron has a sedative effect on the central nervous system and stimulates cardiac activity if infused from it. Suitable for planting in a garden or greenhouse.

Blooming wild rosemary in the Transbaikal taiga. For Transbaikalia, this amazingly beautiful shrub is a symbol of the region.

2. Rhododendron Adams.

This type has a strawberry aroma that even persists after the leaves are cut and dried. That is why Adams' rhododendron is actively used in the form of herbal soothing teas, and young shoots are considered an excellent remedy in the fight against cholera, diphtheria and streptococci.

The beginning of flowering of Adams' rhododendron.

3. Caucasian rhododendron.

This type of plant is not just a decorative garden decoration, but also a source of nutrients. Caucasian rhododendron perfectly saves from rheumatism of various forms, in addition, it has a therapeutic effect on the respiratory system for colds.

Caucasian rhododendron on the slopes of the mountains.

4. Rhododendron is deciduous.

This plant is an excellent solution for garden decoration, as it has a lush bloom.... Planting and caring for a flower in the open field is not difficult.

Japanese rhododendron shrub with delicate cream flowers. The shrub reaches a height of 0.5 - 1 meter.

5. Indoor rhododendron.

This flower must be planted in pots with a wide diameter, as it has a fairly wide root system. In the summer, and in warm autumn, this plant should be removed in the shade, but do not forget to regularly spray its leaves and fertilize the soil.

And this is not the whole list of these plants that can be planted in our latitudes, even in the Moscow region, planting and care will not require a scrupulous approach. Whether it's Adams' rhododendron, or another, any budding gardener can handle this challenge. The only thing worth mentioning is the different flowering times. Therefore, in order for the garden to look gorgeous at any time of the year, whether in autumn or summer, it is worth taking a closer look at the flowering time of rhododendron for better care.

Indoor rhododendron.

Choosing a landing site

Let us dwell in more detail on plants that grow in gardens, for example, Daurian or Caucasian rhododendron. Such a flower requires not only acidic soil, but also a place that will receive a minimum of direct sunlight. In addition, the rhododendron flower is afraid of strong drafts, so this moment is also worth taking care of. In nature, it grows in the shade of large trees, therefore, if there are pines or thick spruces on the site, then it is best to plant Japanese rhododendron, or its other variety. Also, one of the important points is the absence of stagnant water.

When planting a plant on your site, it is worth asking about how much sun it needs. If it is an evergreen flowering type, then it should be located as much as possible in the shade. Otherwise, it simply will not bloom.

The best option for a shrub would be to grow it near a natural or artificial reservoir.

In this case, the air will constantly have optimal moisture content.

In fact, any flower, be it the Adams rhododendron or the deciduous type, requires certain rules. But as is clear from all of the above, there is no particular difficulty in their implementation.

How to plant a plant?

For those who decided to add a new zest to their garden, for example, Daurian rhododendron, it is worth knowing how this bush is grown correctly. It has its own characteristics and rules of care. But let's start with the correct fit:

1. Japanese rhododendron is best planted in the spring.

This will allow the shrub to quickly get used to the new conditions, and its roots will adhere well to the new soil. But if the plant is chosen with a closed type of system, then the planting time can be chosen later.

2. In nature, this flower grows in soil that is rich in humus, loose, acidic, and even the Caucasian rhododendron finds just such conditions.

Accordingly, before placing the seedling in the ground, prepare a substrate in which leafy soil, litter of conifers, peat and, of course, fertilizers should be present.

3. The root system of these plants is quite sensitive, therefore, as soon as the bush is planted, mulching material is strewn around it.

For such purposes, pine bark and coniferous litter are considered the best options. The layer should be equal to 5 cm, but not less.

In order for the cultivation of rhododendron to be successful, you also need to know the rules for caring for such a plant. And there are not so many of them, and they are not so complicated:

1. In the summer, it is required to devote constant time to soil moisture. But it is important not to overdo it here, since the plant will rot from excess moisture.

2. If this is a Caucasian rhododendron, then air humidity is very important for it. Therefore, it must be constantly sprayed, and not only the leaves, but also the flowers when they appear.

3. River or rainwater is used for irrigation. If you use ordinary tap water or an artesian well, then you should be prepared for the fact that the bush does not bloom. This is due to the fact that such a liquid contains too high a concentration of calcium and magnesium, which makes the soil saline.

4. When wilted inflorescences begin to appear on the plant, they must be broken off in such a way that the axillary buds are preserved. This is the only way to improve the splendor of flowering next year.

All these moments allow you to create incredible beauty in the garden. The only thing worth speaking about is the region. For example, if rhododendrons are in the suburbs, planting, or rather, the place for planting should be chosen from such a position that a minimum of sunlight falls on the flower. And if this is the region of St. Petersburg, then there should be no problems with humidity. Therefore, in order not to blunder, even at the time of purchase it is worth choosing a bush not for decorative flowering, but according to its requirements for climatic conditions.

Wintering plants

Winters in our region are not always pleasant and mild, so your garden needs to ensure proper wintering. But it all depends on what kind of plant grows on the site:

1. If they are deciduous plants, then they do not require shelter. The maximum that is required here is to sprinkle the planting sites with dry leaves.

2. For evergreen species, shelter will be needed, but not so much for protection from frost, but so that they do not dry out.

3. If the temperature outside, for example in autumn, does not fall below 10 ° C, then the Japanese rhododendron, or another, can not be covered, since they are quite resistant to such frosts. The most optimal shelter time is November.

As for the opening of the plant, it is best to carry out it by the end of March-beginning of April, so that the roots have time to gradually adapt to the warming soil.

All these points will help to decorate the garden with an unforgettable color, while, if there is a desire to diversify the site, you can think about how the rhododendron transplant is carried out, because it reproduces by cuttings. This means, after a certain time, whole living walls can be created from one bush.

Flowering of rhododendrons in the Moscow region. Video

Amazing rhododendron bush