The close-up of the rhodie suggests your soil might not be as acid as you expect. Green veins with yellowing in between them is a sign of chlorosis, which is caused by a lack of nutrients, particularly iron. Acid-loving plants lack the ability to absorb iron if the soil is at all limey. Is it possible that the mortar in your new wall has raised the pH of the soil next to it? Anyway, if you get some sequestered iron ("Sequestrene" is the one I used years ago), apply it, and they look happier, bob's your uncle... Rhodies don't need a lot of feed but they do need iron in a form they can easily absorb.
It doesn't look as if you've planted it too deeply - you could scrape around a bit and see if you can find the top of the compost which was in the pot, if you're worried. It's got a flower bud, anyway.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply, it is much appreciated and I am taking all this in.
Let me run this past you, how viable would it be to lift the rhodies, repair the soil with the correct nutrients and work the pH down (I'l purchase a more accurate tester. Once that is done, choose two of the best looking rhododendrons and plant them at the front of the planter. Behind the rhodies, plant a climbing hydrangea behind as bob bob mentioned. At least this way I will get some nice coverage of the fence and it will give time for the rhodies to recover and hopefully flourish. I'm not sure how easy it will be after 3 years of rooting but the state they are in I obviously have to work the soil anyhow.
I presume using sharp sand and grit to start with, can you suggest any particular feed to put into the mix? Also will a good mix of compost help?
Sorry for all the questions
I would like to keep the rhodies as I was at one time very fond of them, it is through my own doing that they have failed so fingers crossed they will recover.
Fishtycuffs, two things come to mind, Rome was not built in a day, it took Centuries, and Anything worth having is worth waiting for. I have waited five years for a Peony to flower after planting, count the time it took to root call that seven years and it is now a lovely bush which gives me pleasure every year, care and patience are what gardening needs. So you made a mistake so what, every gardener on here has done that it is how we learn. We all yearn for the perfect garden it never happens Nature gets in the way so we work with what we have always planning two or more years ahead.
Right those Rhododendrons only need some TLC plus a bag of ericaceous compost, that is a lime free slightly acid compost from any Garden Shop, mix it into the soil around the Rhododendrons and wait, you will see the difference as summer goes on. You will then have to put in other plants that will thrive in the same soil, each plant has its own needs in nutrients and soil PH. Feeding loads of Fertiliser to plants is a bit like giving them too many big mac's, little and often in the growing season is all they need though if you can get good well rotted manure you could dress or mulch around the beds in Autumn and let the worms work their magic.
Sit down with a pencil and paper and plan with the help of Google Plant Books and this board what you want in the future, some plants will come and go in one year, that is it. Some need to be sown brought on and will flower next year then some will be finished others last years, the choice of plants is yours I would not advise on that as we all differ in taste. Make a list of what you would like in the garden, although a one year wonder which would be all bedding plants would be over in a year then a desert. Bulbs need to be planned by season and sown in the Autumn to flower the next spring. The same thing with Shrubs some such as Lavender will be planted as small plants get bigger year on year for about eight years then become leggy, I then dig them out and start again, it is the same with many plants, they grow away from the original root ball leaving gaps so you split them back into small plants again and replant them as Monty showed on GW Friday, nothing lasts forever unless you plant an oak tree, that will outlast you. It is a continuous job planning changing and maintenance, if someone tells you they have a maintenance free garden they lie because they do not exist. Slow down, Think long and deeply as to what you wish to achieve but let it happen as nature intended in its own time.
Must admit I am not fond of Rhodies in a garden. Too often they are leggy and untidY with a short flowering season. I would howk them out and put something else there.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Hogweed, you could say that of any plant, even bedding plants have a short life if you do not deadhead feed them and generally pamper them. My Rhododendron is in full bloom this morning and a glorious sight, certainly it will only be ten to fourteen days but not in the least leggy after nearly thirty years. My other love Peony's are also something you cherish for just two weeks bloom but what glorious blooms and as they flower at different times a continuous joy. One of those took seven years before I got one bloom you should see it now. You could just rake a patch throw seed down and wait, what would be the fun in that I ask. You plan nurture and set you stall out to have plants coming into their own in sequence Rhodo's and Peony are just part of the grand plan. Like a Sunday roast dinner, if part is missing no matter it be a sprout or slice of beef the whole is incomplete. My opinion only of course.
can only agree Hogweed, it also applies to every walk of life, the fact that Politicians are suddenly waking up to the fact we are a right diverse lot us voters. long may it remain so. Diversity makes the world go round.
I removed the rhodies and was surprised at how easy it was, the root balls were pretty compact.
I have reworked all the soil, to be fair the soil was in much better condition than I initially thought, I think the issue I was having was more of a nutrient issue. During the work, I have added a large bag of ericaceous compost (75 litre) and added 2 bags of sharp sand really worked it deep into into the soil (approx 12 - 18 inches deep). Back braking but the soil feels really good now. I have also given them a good drink with a dose of miracle grow camellia and rhododendron soluble feed.
As I re planted the rhododendrons, I loosened up the root ball as I wasn't happy with it coming out of the ground pot shaped (I obviously didn't loosen it up enough initially). I have also bunched them together in the corner to give them a thicker appearance, not ideal but it's the only way i am going to put up with them being there and giving them a chance rather than putting them in the green bin.
I have also added two camillia plants between the rhodies and the birch tree to see how they do.
Fingers crossed, with a bit of TLC and the soil improvement, I'll see better results through the summer. The rhodies do have quite a lot of flowering buds to be fair, probably wont see the flowers this year due to the disturbance but you never know.
Anyway, a BIG THANK YOU to all who commented and helped me make up my mind on what to do and all advice is greatly appreciated.
Just in case anyone was wondering, I have a load of germinated seeds growing at the moment with all kinds of delicious looking plants to fill up the spaces, they are about an inch tall now, but hopefully by the end of the month I will be able to start planting out and have the area looking nice.
I'm off for a nice soak in a bottle of RADOX haha.
Posts
Hi Fishtycuffs.
The close-up of the rhodie suggests your soil might not be as acid as you expect. Green veins with yellowing in between them is a sign of chlorosis, which is caused by a lack of nutrients, particularly iron. Acid-loving plants lack the ability to absorb iron if the soil is at all limey. Is it possible that the mortar in your new wall has raised the pH of the soil next to it? Anyway, if you get some sequestered iron ("Sequestrene" is the one I used years ago), apply it, and they look happier, bob's your uncle... Rhodies don't need a lot of feed but they do need iron in a form they can easily absorb.
It doesn't look as if you've planted it too deeply - you could scrape around a bit and see if you can find the top of the compost which was in the pot, if you're worried. It's got a flower bud, anyway.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply, it is much appreciated and I am taking all this in.
Let me run this past you, how viable would it be to lift the rhodies, repair the soil with the correct nutrients and work the pH down (I'l purchase a more accurate tester. Once that is done, choose two of the best looking rhododendrons and plant them at the front of the planter. Behind the rhodies, plant a climbing hydrangea behind as bob bob mentioned. At least this way I will get some nice coverage of the fence and it will give time for the rhodies to recover and hopefully flourish. I'm not sure how easy it will be after 3 years of rooting but the state they are in I obviously have to work the soil anyhow.
I presume using sharp sand and grit to start with, can you suggest any particular feed to put into the mix? Also will a good mix of compost help?
Sorry for all the questions
I would like to keep the rhodies as I was at one time very fond of them, it is through my own doing that they have failed so fingers crossed they will recover.
Fishtycuffs, two things come to mind, Rome was not built in a day, it took Centuries, and Anything worth having is worth waiting for. I have waited five years for a Peony to flower after planting, count the time it took to root call that seven years and it is now a lovely bush which gives me pleasure every year, care and patience are what gardening needs. So you made a mistake so what, every gardener on here has done that it is how we learn. We all yearn for the perfect garden it never happens Nature gets in the way so we work with what we have always planning two or more years ahead.
Right those Rhododendrons only need some TLC plus a bag of ericaceous compost, that is a lime free slightly acid compost from any Garden Shop, mix it into the soil around the Rhododendrons and wait, you will see the difference as summer goes on. You will then have to put in other plants that will thrive in the same soil, each plant has its own needs in nutrients and soil PH. Feeding loads of Fertiliser to plants is a bit like giving them too many big mac's, little and often in the growing season is all they need though if you can get good well rotted manure you could dress or mulch around the beds in Autumn and let the worms work their magic.
Sit down with a pencil and paper and plan with the help of Google Plant Books and this board what you want in the future, some plants will come and go in one year, that is it. Some need to be sown brought on and will flower next year then some will be finished others last years, the choice of plants is yours I would not advise on that as we all differ in taste. Make a list of what you would like in the garden, although a one year wonder which would be all bedding plants would be over in a year then a desert. Bulbs need to be planned by season and sown in the Autumn to flower the next spring. The same thing with Shrubs some such as Lavender will be planted as small plants get bigger year on year for about eight years then become leggy, I then dig them out and start again, it is the same with many plants, they grow away from the original root ball leaving gaps so you split them back into small plants again and replant them as Monty showed on GW Friday, nothing lasts forever unless you plant an oak tree, that will outlast you. It is a continuous job planning changing and maintenance, if someone tells you they have a maintenance free garden they lie because they do not exist. Slow down, Think long and deeply as to what you wish to achieve but let it happen as nature intended in its own time.
Frank.
Must admit I am not fond of Rhodies in a garden. Too often they are leggy and untidY with a short flowering season. I would howk them out and put something else there.
Hogweed, you could say that of any plant, even bedding plants have a short life if you do not deadhead feed them and generally pamper them. My Rhododendron is in full bloom this morning and a glorious sight, certainly it will only be ten to fourteen days but not in the least leggy after nearly thirty years. My other love Peony's are also something you cherish for just two weeks bloom but what glorious blooms and as they flower at different times a continuous joy. One of those took seven years before I got one bloom you should see it now. You could just rake a patch throw seed down and wait, what would be the fun in that I ask. You plan nurture and set you stall out to have plants coming into their own in sequence Rhodo's and Peony are just part of the grand plan. Like a Sunday roast dinner, if part is missing no matter it be a sprout or slice of beef the whole is incomplete. My opinion only of course.
Frank.
And it would be a boring old place if we all had the same opinions!
can only agree Hogweed, it also applies to every walk of life, the fact that Politicians are suddenly waking up to the fact we are a right diverse lot us voters. long may it remain so. Diversity makes the world go round.
Frank.
Hey guys,
UPDATE:
I removed the rhodies and was surprised at how easy it was, the root balls were pretty compact.
I have reworked all the soil, to be fair the soil was in much better condition than I initially thought, I think the issue I was having was more of a nutrient issue. During the work, I have added a large bag of ericaceous compost (75 litre) and added 2 bags of sharp sand really worked it deep into into the soil (approx 12 - 18 inches deep). Back braking but the soil feels really good now. I have also given them a good drink with a dose of miracle grow camellia and rhododendron soluble feed.
As I re planted the rhododendrons, I loosened up the root ball as I wasn't happy with it coming out of the ground pot shaped (I obviously didn't loosen it up enough initially). I have also bunched them together in the corner to give them a thicker appearance, not ideal but it's the only way i am going to put up with them being there and giving them a chance rather than putting them in the green bin.
I have also added two camillia plants between the rhodies and the birch tree to see how they do.
Fingers crossed, with a bit of TLC and the soil improvement, I'll see better results through the summer. The rhodies do have quite a lot of flowering buds to be fair, probably wont see the flowers this year due to the disturbance but you never know.
Anyway, a BIG THANK YOU to all who commented and helped me make up my mind on what to do and all advice is greatly appreciated.
Pic
of the end result....
Just in case anyone was wondering, I have a load of germinated seeds growing at the moment with all kinds of delicious looking plants to fill up the spaces, they are about an inch tall now, but hopefully by the end of the month I will be able to start planting out and have the area looking nice.
I'm off for a nice soak in a bottle of RADOX haha.
Thanks again everyone