What is the preferred way to prune Rhododendrons?
Question:My Rhododendron has finished blooming, and the flowers have wilted and fallen off. Now there are these spindly umbrella shaped forms where the flowers were. There seems to be new green leafy growth coming out of these areas where the flowers were. It seems to me that if I leave it as is, all is well. I do however recall reading that pruning Rhododendrons immediately after blooming is a good thing. What is the real deal with the pruning of Rhododendrons? Where do I cut the branches? Should I at all?
Answers:
Don't do any harsh pruning at this time. If you cut any branches, you will loose next years blooms which are beginning to develop. The only thing you need to do is remove the spent flowers that have dried up and look like these umbrella's you speak of. To do this just grab the umbrella with the thumb and index finger. Bend it back and forth a couple of times and it should snap right off, leaving three or four visible buds just below where you snapped it off. Only snap it off "above" these visible new buds, they are the start, of next years blooms. The only time any major pruning is required, is when the plants are getting out of control, perhaps when they are encroaching on a walkway, window, etc. Hope this answers your question.
...Billy Ray
I never bothered unless they were getting too large.
Billy Ray is right. Prune only if you need too. Pruning should be done long after the blooms have faded, in late summer preferably. Prune lightly, as Rhododendrons do not need regular pruning for healthy growth.
Some special advise should be considered for reinvigorating older plants, You can cut back one third of the shrub each year for three years. Prune the shrub evenly.
If your Rhododendron blooms heavily every other year, thin out crowded flower buds in the fall.
If you are not having a problem with your Rhododendron then I would not bother pruning it. Let it take the shape that it naturally grows.
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