How do I treat a poorly rhodendrum?
Question:the leaves have gone yellow and the wood is very brittle
Answers:
Acid feed. Get some ericacious compost and dig it in around the roots; get a good ericacious liquid feed (Miracle Grow does a good one in a yellow bottle with a pink cap, I think) and follow the instructions on the bottle (usually dilute it correctly and feed it once a fortnight throughout the growing season).
Ensure it is planted in a location where it does not get too much sun - this can dry out the leaves both in summer and winter, sometimes known as wind burn. Rhododendrons do not maintain moisture in the leaves well at all, so if not protected from sun & wind the leaves dry out & turn yellow.
I had the same problem & consulted with a landscaper - we are going to move 3 rhodies to different locations in my landscape this fall - one from the southwest sideof my house to an inside corner on the north east side, and two from the front of my house, which faces west, to a very protected area under some evergreens.
try giving it tomato liduid food, it works wonders every time for all plants !, Cut back anything that looks dead first, then give it a nice nutrious tomato liquid drink, with the dead stuff gone, it has all energy to pick up again. Good luck ! ps watch out for cat's that pooh/pee in it as it kills plants.i have a cat pepper i use and its very good . Wilkinson's is the best shop !
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