Can I plant these rhodos here?

18 years ago

I want to plant 2 dwarf purple gem rhodos on the west side of my house right next to my front porch. There will be sun all afternoon there. That's my main worry. It is well drained soil and not too windy. I will use peat moss because our soil here is sandy. I would also keep it well watered because I water all my plants out front there almost daily. Any thoughts on how it would do? I am not familiar with rhododendrons.

Thanks,

Jane

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Comments (5)

jenny_in_se_pa
18 years ago
How are the winter winds on that west-facing side? That might be more of an issue than the amount of sun. Ie., in many locations, the wind pattern follows the west -> east jetstream and thus west-facing has the potential for winter wind damage and leaf dessication without a suitable wind break nearby or other means for protection until the rhodie is established.
spongebob_mom
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, we are at the top of a hill, but we are surrounded by a lot of trees. I guess I don't really know how to answer that question. We've only lived here for 2 years. I don't know if it's really windy there or not. We don't get a lot of snow drifts there or anything. And I would have to say no because our house turns there (on a 90 degree angle towards the west) and I would think that would protect it as well. Is there a way to protect the plants in the winter?

Jane
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ego45
18 years ago
I think that such low growing rhododendron as 'Purple Gem" planted near the porch will be protected, especially if you cover it by snow. Water them well in a summer and they'll be fine.
Word of caution, though.
They look very pretty, nice and rounded when they come from the nursery, but do not expect them to be like that in years thereafter unless you'll shear them every year RIGHT after the blooming.
spongebob_mom
Original Author
18 years ago
So what you're saying is that I should shear them every year right after they bloom? Otherwise they will not stay round? Why do I have to shear them that time of the year?

Jane
katrina1
18 years ago
Azaleas and rhodos like to extend long reaches mainly on the stems that flower the best. When that occurs the shrubs begin to lose their compact rounded mound shape.

If one wants denser shrubs to be covered with blooms next season, it is best to prune them to be more compact and uniform in height and shape.

If the shrubs are pruned after each blooming, any further growth or seasonal fall blooming that the shrub accomplishes will be better maintained in that dense mounded shape.

They do not have to be cut back to the ground, unless there is some other purpose one is wanting to accomplish with doing that.

I have found it easy to simply prune back to the the desired height in contrast to the rest of the shrub's growth of my young azaleas that have yet to reach their mature height.

This method helps keep the shrubs compact without preventing the mound from getting taller each year and without preventing the shrub from eventually reaching the desired mature height that I planned for its location in the bed.