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Dried up Rhododendron

nicholas218nicholas218 Posts: 24
in Problem solving
Hi. I have a well established Rhododendron. It's never had a problem and always has a nice display of pale pink flowers.

At the moment it looks very sickly with all the leaves drooping. @It has some buds on it but they look quite small; the leaves haven't dropped. I was giving it water during the dry February we had but it's not showing any signs of recovery yet in fact as other stuff around it comes to life it looks increasingly poorly. I have put some garden compost mulch around it.

Should I leave it alone and hope for the best? or is there any other action I could take?

I think the damage was probably done during the scorching summer last year and it might now be too late for it to recover.

Would value your help please


Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They form the new buds in late summer so that's when the damage was probably done.
    They're shallow rooting shrubs, so they need plenty of moisture, but also good drainage. It's why they do so well here where I am - anywhere in the west, where there's plenty of rain all year round, is the ideal.  :)

    They're probably isn't much you can do other than adding regular amounts of organic matter - leaf mould is great if you have it, or decent compost - home made is excellent, but anything that will retain moisture well is fine. Make sure you add it when the soil is well dampened though. Then make sure it doesn't go short of moisture over the next six months or so. It'll shed the buds to try and preserve the rest of the plant, so they might all drop.  
    Have you a photo? 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • nicholas218nicholas218 Posts: 24
    I'm in Norfolk so much drier conditions. Photo attached. The Ash tree nearby probably hasn't helped too much either. Its north facing given shade by the fence.


     
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Too dry for too long would be the most likely reason. The holly and the grass are all competition for moisture too. 
    If you clear all the weeds etc from around it, and give it a bucket of water every few days, that should help. Then mulch - little and often with that to avoid burying the roots too deeply.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • nicholas218nicholas218 Posts: 24
    Thanks a lot. Thought all might be lost. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You can only try and see if it comes back. It's surprising how tough they can be, so hopefully it'll be fine  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    Rhododendrons an take a lot of drought ater the leaves have reached full size. Yours looks a gonner. Too much watering when the roots have died will finish it off.

    I have honey fungus.  I hope that's not your problem.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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