- Should I remove spent rhododendron flower spikes?
Deadheading of a Rhododendron, which is the removal of spent flowers, should be done soon after the flowers fade, taking care not to injure the new growth. Rhododendrons and Azaleas set next year's flower buds by mid to late summer and any injury to these nascent buds will affect the blooming potential for the following year. Although it is not essential to remove the spent flower spikes, this important job helps control insects and improves the abundance and quality of the next year's bloom as well as the appearance of the shrub in the post blooming season.
After a Rhododendron has bloomed, grip the old flower head between your fingers. And take care not to damage flower or leaf buds or stems surrounding the old parts. Next, bend the flower remnant from between any new growth. This is easiest done by hand rather than with clippers. Plus, you might want to wear gloves, so your fingers don’t get sticky. Usually, the deadheads snap out easily & cleanly. But if part of the deadhead remains, pinch that out as well. Or snip it clean with your pruners. Clean up any pruning debris from under and around the plant.
Pruning immediately after the blooming period is standard practice. However, some rhododendrons that bloom very heavily should be pruned prior to blooming to reduce the number of flowers and thus maintain vigour of the plant. Thinning the flowers also can improve the quality and placement of the ones that remain.
Sources:
www.rhododendron.org
https://gardenmentors.com/garden-help/gardening-guidelines/how-to-prune-rhododendrons/
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/rhododendron/growing-guide
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