Great to hear from you all. I posted this last evening and voilá, woke up to see all these messages.....Could not find any active Canadian garden forums. Had already posted on a U. S. forum last week, only one response from someone who offered no suggestions. I should clarify that most of these shrubs are planted on the north side of the house, under or very close to pine or cedar trees, they are in shade for most part of the day and they are getting early morning and late afternoon sun only . I don't think soil condition or location are the problem. Most likely under watering and neglect, as we can see neglect on the trees as well. Saw the propery first in October when leaves were turning and on the ground etc. Moved in in December when it snowed. At that point the rhododendron should have been already wrapped in burlap, but we were busy with moving in and dealing with a superficially great looking but very cold and drafty house and other things. Already bought 3 rolls of burlap for next winter.... I suspect that some of the shrubs are younger than others, going by the labels still on them, and their size. None are very old. Some are leggier than others. In the spring I gave them all a dose of plant food for acid loving plants. Don't want to give them too much as the ground should be anyhow on the acidic side, The neighboring hostas are huge, I fed them nothing... Glad to hear that the stems can be pruned hard, as some of them look like long bare sticks with a little green flowery pom pom at the top. So, if right after flowering I prune those back to abt. 15 to 20 cm from the ground, without any leaves left, will they sprout new growth ??? In that scenario there wont be any leaves for photosynthesis, will this pose no problem? It might be quite hot by then, will it matter ?
You may be better off just keeping them well watered for the time being. When the days grow shorter and cooler the leaves won't be providing much energy to the plants - then may be the best time to prune them back. The stems will re-shoot readily once the top is removed (assuming the plants are in good health by then) so no need to cut them back too harshly.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Posts
I should clarify that most of these shrubs are planted on the north side of the house, under or very close to pine or cedar trees, they are in shade for most part of the day and they are getting early morning and late afternoon sun only . I don't think soil condition or location are the problem. Most likely under watering and neglect, as we can see neglect on the trees as well. Saw the propery first in October when leaves were turning and on the ground etc. Moved in in December when it snowed. At that point the rhododendron should have been already wrapped in burlap, but we were busy with moving in and dealing with a superficially great looking but very cold and drafty house and other things. Already bought 3 rolls of burlap for next winter....
I suspect that some of the shrubs are younger than others, going by the labels still on them, and their size. None are very old. Some are leggier than others.
In the spring I gave them all a dose of plant food for acid loving plants. Don't want to give them too much as the ground should be anyhow on the acidic side, The neighboring hostas are huge, I fed them nothing...
Glad to hear that the stems can be pruned hard, as some of them look like long bare sticks with a little green flowery pom pom at the top. So, if right after flowering I prune those back to abt. 15 to 20 cm from the ground, without any leaves left, will they sprout new growth ??? In that scenario there wont be any leaves for photosynthesis, will this pose no problem? It might be quite hot by then, will it matter ?
When the days grow shorter and cooler the leaves won't be providing much energy to the plants - then may be the best time to prune them back.
The stems will re-shoot readily once the top is removed (assuming the plants are in good health by then) so no need to cut them back too harshly.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.