Great job!
If I may, I would try to discourage you to use Nova Zembla in this planting.
Color is a matter of taste and who am I to say anything about it (and yes, combination will be garish), but overall habit of NZ is something that prevent them to be used as underplanting plant. They rather need another underplanting for themselves which usualy is done by either low growing Rh. Chionoides or white azaleas.
Contrary, if you'd use (as readily available as NZ) Boursault(purple) or Catawbiense Album (pinkish white) both, color compatability and purpose will be served.
Just one man opinion :-)

Absolutely beautiful!!!
What a great job and I like how your neighbor planted the perfect tree to accent your blooms. I am afraid I too donÂt think R. ÂNova Zembla would be a good choice due to its own leggy nature and in my landscape it seems to be more insect prone than other adjoining varieties. I happen to think the blossom color combination would be beautiful, but I also got excited this spring about the color combo of Azalea ÂGibraltar (orange) and Azalea Âfuchsia.

How charming! I don't remember the original post. Are you saying you moved all (or most of) these rhodies from another spot and transplanted them?

Gee, I've been contemplating moving ONE rhodie and have hesitated for about 4 years, lol. All the while it continues to grow and eat my house. Now I'm inspired.

Looking good!
:)
Dee

I remember the first post and I'm delighted that the transplanting turned out so well! I also like the way the white picket fence stops on both sides and the rhodies exuberantly take over the edging.

What's the new little tree/shrub in the center of the lawn? It's got a tough act to follow the rhodie display.

Claire

It looks beautiful. Just one thought. If there are any deer within a mile, spray all the rhododendrons regularly with Liquid Fence or a similar product or the deer will eat them all.

George, I read your post before going to Carol's Collectibles in Ashford and listened to your advice. Who knows?, at this stage of life I might have been okay with a border that probably would look like an upchucked overdose of sherbet, but I came home with a Percy Wiseman Yak Rhododendron that will grow a dense 3-4T' x 4-5'W and is a pinky, peachy color. As a replacement for a dead 'Holden', I did get one Nova - little guy - so I can prune as necessary. Wanted one...just wanted it.

Digger - yes, all of them were hand dug, transported and put in place into 18 yds. of new soil last April 1st & 2nd.

Claire, thanks, and the new tree in the center is a Magnolia Golden Endeavor. The new Kousa in front of the corner fence was given to me by the tree cutter who felled the pines because he felt so bad as yours truly couldn't hold the tears back as the old pines thumped to the ground. There's something about the sound of a huge tree hitting the ground that just sickens my stomach. Nice fellow, my arborist, who also likes our shrimp scampi, so we share, lol.

Ginny - I faithfully spray the entire yard with Deer Away. Oddly enough, for 3 decades the deer just walked by the Roseum Elegans and never touched them - they still don't. But they certainly like everything else I plant!

Ooh, coronum, I was just contemplating buying a Percy Wiseman for a friend's yard, and we ended up deciding against it (for design reasons; nothing against ol' Percy).

I think it's a beautiful rhodie and may end up buying one for myself anyway.

BTW - "an upchucked overdose of sherbet..." - funny! Gross, but funny, and very descriptive!

Do you mind if I ask one more question regarding the transplanting of the rhodies? Did you cut them back when you moved them? If so, (or even if not) how big were they when you moved them? Thanks!

Dee

Hi Dee,

No, didn't cut back or prune one branch. Tallest were 15', shortest were about 6.5' tall last year. The folks from the CT chapter of the American Rhododendron Society were very helpful - all by email. It can be done! Picture below shows the backs of the grouping that was separated and also reveals that they were not cut back.

{{gwi:1077648}}

Jane

Great - so glad it turned out so well, and thank you for the update!

The newest advice is to not cut back shrubs when you move them. I had to move something ... a crape myrtle, in fact, later in the season than I'd planned, and the guys on the trees forum talked me out of cutting it back when it wilted into a pathetic lump of limp foliage. They were right, it recovered just fine.

Apparently, the old idea of creating balance between the diminished root mass and the leafy top was never based on observational evidence, and now that testing has been done (I probably have a bookmark to one or more studies ... ) it seems that cutting back causes more harm than any good it might do.

Thank you both! It does seem like it would be easier to move if it was smaller, though. Guess I'll have to get some help.

Okay, sorry, one last question I just thought of - when? Does timing matter?

Sorry to kind of take over your thread, coronum. I'm just so glad to see that you were so successful, and it gives me, scaredy-cat that I am, a little nudge to just do it.

Thanks,
Dee

Rhododendrons(azaleas/kalmias/pierises) could be moved at any time when soil is workable, though late fall transplantation may result in excessive leaf dissecation (sun burn) during the subsequent winter/early spring. No other problems had been reported.

Jane - Thanks so much for posting. I remember reading your initial post with interest, and it's great to have a follow-up. It looks like your border is healthy and happy, and with additional rhodies underplanted, it will be both a good buffer for you from the road, and a real traffic stopper when things fill in a bit more. I'm glad everything worked out well for you in the long run.