Rhododendrons and concrete
botann
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (16)
luis_pr
15 years agoEmbothrium
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Bought my first Rhododendron!
Comments (10)Hi everyone! I took the Rhododendron back to Home Depot today. I found out we don't have the right soil for it in the area that we live. I should have known since in my immediate area no one has any shrubs. I am the only one, and all I have right now are Forsythias. I talked to our local Soil and Water Conservation Dept and the woman said that our area has no lime in the soil, because our area was covered under a glacier for so long. She mentioned a nearby county and said they have a nice layer of lime under their soil and can grow Rhododendrons easily.. She told me our local soil is not very acidic at all. She said that people who have Rhododendrons around here often add the ash from their pellet stoves/wood stoves to the soil around the plant to make it more acidic. While we do have a pellet stove that we use to heat our home in the winter, there is NO WAY we want to pollute our soil with burnt ash, especially just to keep a foo foo plant going. That is not the kind of commitment I am looking for in a plant. The woman told me that I should buy "Pelletized Magnesium Lime", and to use a couple of cups of it for each Common Lilac shrub that we plant this weekend. We have 2 of them to plant. She said I will then have to add Lime each year by sprinkling some around the plant, which is no big deal. She said Common Lilac are not that picky about their soil, and since my Forsythias grew 4 ft last year, she thinks my Lilacs will do fine too. She said that anyone who has Rhododendrons in our county has to work for them, because of the lack of acidity of our soil... So either the people I met at Home Depot were all phony in their boasting how easy Rhododendrons are, or they all lived out of town. :I've never seen Lime before, and have no idea what I'm in for, but I'm excited to learn. She said that Home Depot and Tractor Supply will have the Magnesium Lime that I need. I hope so. ETA: I wanted to add one last thing. 11 years ago, when we bought our house there was a HUGE Common Lilac bush in the backyard, all caught up in a chain link fence the prior owner had, which we tore down immediately after moving in. The shrub was such a mess! OMG! This was way before my love of planting had come to be, so dh and I thoughtlessly ripped the shrub out as we took down the fence, and we never thought another thing about it.. until now. The reason I bring it up is since that shrub grew under complete and utter neglect by the prior owner, that I think we have decent enough soil for it. This post was edited by ilovemytrees on Fri, May 16, 14 at 15:57...See MoreConcrete OK near garden?
Comments (31)I am really surprised by some of the answers on here. They seem to be varied as opinions on future weather patterns. Someone even said concrete is "lime, water and aggregate"? I hope to clarify statements like these. Let me pre-emptively state that my occupation is as a Technical Representative for a large Concrete and Cement packaging Corporation. I also serve on two Technical Committees that write specifications on Cement. I will try to keep this response in Layman's terms, so it is easily understood for all that read this article. Cement is derived from taking ground Limestone and then kilning it at very high temperatures to produce a finished Cement product. When it is kilned, the chemical composition changes from its base raw limestone. Cement is then blended with Coarse (Rock) and Fine (Sand) Aggregates. Sometimes Fly Ash (Coal that has been burned and recouped) as well as Silica Fume (Derived as a by-product from the production of elemental silicon or ferrosilicon alloys in electric arc furnaces) are added. Often Air Entrainment admixtures are also added for better freeze thaw resistance as well as high range water reducers/Super Plasticizer's in the case of higher strength concretes or when you are attempting to beget a desire trait from the finished concrete. There are other admixtures that can be added but I won't get in to all the variations of mix designs. The last component is water and that is self explanatory. The Topic Question (Is Concrete OK near Garden) is best answered this way...While Concrete is in its plastic state; Yes the cement component is caustic to vegetation and will often cause a temporary deterioration in that vegetation. Of course you would not want to place concrete directly on any shrub or flower bed while in this state, but once Concrete has set, there may be a very minUTE leaching of lime that is contained within the cement matrix. This may actually add a benefit to the soil depending on the soil conditions where you live. And this was more prevalent in cements of old but is not seen too often now, unless host soils contain lime that leaches through (In the case of retaining walls). In fact Cement and Concrete are routinely used to encapsulate toxic soils nowadays by Environmental Companies to reduce the leaching of the numerous chemicals that were used in Heavy Manufacturing of the past. Feel secure to cast your concrete garden edging at the side of your garden. I hope this helps....See MoreHelp with Ailing Rhododendrons
Comments (14)If this is on the east coast (and I remind houzz/gardenweb to somehow remind new posters of the need to inform us of their location!!!) the root rot organisms are essentially cosmopolitan, found in any normal garden soil, and will attack plants weakened by other circumstances. There's really no need to try to avoid spreading them. The east coast had the string of hottest summers since the 1930s in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and many borderline plants were damaged, wakened or killed by that. This plant (L) was obviously in decline for a couple years before dying. That rhodie might have had slightly more knotted roots, been planted slightly too deep, etc. etc, so the other one managed to survive (for now!)...even assuming they weren't different varieties. Some of which are more resistant to root rot than others! In front of an semi-urban brick wall (is the sidewalk just beyond view?) is NOT a good location for a rhododendron in any eastern zone 7b location. In fact that far south it's surprising they made it as long as they did. try to save the other one by removing dead branches, providing a cool mulch and otherwise leaving it alone - fertilizer will most likely make the problem worse. Plant something tougher in the adjacent spot to replace the dead one....See MoreHelp me bring my Rhododendron back!
Comments (13)i dont understand whats going on at the root flare ... where the plant meets the ground ... is there landscape fabric in there??? so .. if i understand .. when it was small .. and fully in shade... it did just fine ... and then when it gor tall enough to grow out into the sun .. it started having trouble... coincidence??? ... you can cut it down ... if the root mass is intact ... no problems down there .. it should return with some vigor.. but it sure doesnt look like it is doing that .. so why would it with a hard cutback ... its probably time for it to go ... its just old and spent ... and you can replace it with a new vigorous plant ... lawn irrigation is rarely sufficient for transplants .. so if you go that route.. try to water it properly for a few years ... other than that.. a mature plant.. shouldnt need all that much watering ... except perhaps in drought ... soooo.. if it were mine.. i would cut it back to under a foot.. and see what happens.. and if it didnt get its act together.. i would replace it in fall or spring.. whenever the next proper planting season is ... wherever you might be .. this is a good primer on planting: https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub ken ps: i think you use the term gardener loosely......See Morebotann
14 years agobekcgarden
14 years agobotann
14 years agobekcgarden
14 years agorhodyman
14 years agocottonclouds
8 years agocottonclouds
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years agocottonclouds
8 years agorhodyman
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years agocottonclouds
8 years agocottonclouds
8 years ago
Related Stories
LANDSCAPE DESIGNUnwind in Your Own Private Garden Escape
When the world is getting on your last nerve, an outdoor refuge can soothe and nurture. Here's how to design a garden with relaxing in mind
Full StoryLIFETrue Confessions of a House Stalker
Letting go when a new owner dares to change a beloved house's look can be downright difficult. Has this ever happened to you?
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNYour Mini Guide to Great Garden Edges
Get the scoop on trenches to the skinny on bender board, to help keep your garden beds as tidy as you like
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGSpring Patio Fix-Ups: Earn Rave Reviews for Your Patio's Entrance
Consider innovative doors, charming gates or even just potted plants to cue a stylish entry point for your patio
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Create a Beautiful Shade Garden
Turn the cool, shady spot in your garden into your own quiet oasis
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGardening Solutions for Heavy Clay Soils
What’s a gardener to do with soil that’s easily compacted and has poor drainage? Find out here
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNFront-Yard Makeover Ideas With Mojo
Make a statement in your front landscape with one of these standout styles
Full StoryURBAN GARDENSA Dynamic Backyard Design Embraces Its Urban Setting
A New York City outdoor space comes to life with a curvy new brick patio, thoughtful outdoor furnishings and evergreen foliage
Full StoryLIFEHouzz Call: Show Us the House You Grew Up In
Share a photo and story about your childhood home. Does it influence your design tastes today?
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNDitch the Ordinary Ditch: Create a Realistic Dry Creek Bed
Here’s how to turn your water runoff system into an eye-catching accent for your landscape
Full Story
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)