Purple Gem Rhododendron Issues
HU-99170548
9 months ago
last modified: 9 months ago
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 months agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 months agoRelated Discussions
dried up rhododendron
Comments (5)In addition to watering practices, I'd question how deep the rhody is planted. These are very shallow rooted shrubs and IME, planting them too deeply is a sure recipe for failure. The root ball should be just slightly above the soil surface and only a very light layer of mulch should be applied upto that point....See MoreDwarf Purple Gem Rhodie
Comments (10)Purple Gem is a widely available and attractive dwarf rhododendron, but unless it is grown in full sun - 6 or more hours of direct exposure - it will become "stemy" as yours has. So, it's a normal look for the ones grown in too much shade, but not as dense as it would be in more sun. The rolled leaves indicate the need for water, especially if they remain rolled in the cooler temperatures of early morning. Lack of sufficient nitrogen can cause yellow leaves, but this doesn't seem likely if it's planted in decaying pine needles. Likewise, iron deficiency is unlikely because the soil should be acid enough in this location. It may well be the natural color of the newest leaves which will become a darker green with time. MiracleGro is, at best, very temporary. A better fertilizer is Holly Tone, but wait until next year so you don't stimulate late, soft growth....See MoreAdvice on my Purple Gem
Comments (4)It's quite odd that the green growth is only at the branch tips in a full sun location. Recent heavy rain should not have been a factor either because the new growth was initiated right after bloom. A slope can certainly help with drainage but is not a guarantee. Even poor dainage, though, should not have caused the kind of growth seen in the photo. When the two plants were growing well, did they put out new growth from the base without the bare centers now seen? I'm also not sure if there are lots of completely bare branches or if they are mostly bare with green growth at the tips. There isn't anything to do at this point in the year except to prune out dead branches if there are any. Pruning back toward the base right after bloom time next spring should cause new growth to break from that point. Fertilizer may help, but it's never a great idea to do it without a soil test first....See MoreDo squirrels typically mess with Azalea/Rhododendron flower buds?
Comments (9)These bushy tailed critters aren't a source of anything except frustration when you see your beds dug up and tomatoes chewed. A few months back, I started hearing strange noises in the wee hours of the morning. Something like an animal scrambling and running along the roof on the outside. My husband made a couple of inspection during daytime in the attic and came out with nothing. One night when we were outside, we saw something flying from a tree on the opposite side across the yard. In the dark, Nothing was clear and we couldn't figure out what it was. It looked more like a chameleon to me that day. The next day, on inspection in the attic, we found some droppings. They were all confined to a single area. Upon discussing the problem with a few friends, we came to the conclusion that it is a flying squirrel. I set up a live trap which didn't work and finally called for a humane squirrel removal service in Markham service to get rid of it. This creature almost ate all of my berries and other veggies in my garden. If you find one around your premises, get this creature out at any cost, or it is going to cost you a lot....See MoreHoward Martin
9 months agoHoward Martin
9 months agokitasei2
9 months agoHU-99170548
9 months agoHU-99170548
9 months agolast modified: 9 months ago
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)