Rhododendrons and azaleas are perennials that beautify gardens all over the world! If you also have these adorable shrubs, boy, you’re lucky!
Since their blooming period has passed, you may notice the leaves starting to turn beautiful shades of golden yellow, red, and purple! Isn’t it amazing that these plants can create a colorful fall display in your garden?
I must admit that in the beginning I was worried about whether they would survive the frosty days in my garden! It was also autumn when I started searching for answers on how to keep my rhododendrons and azaleas safe during these cold months.
Little did I know that protecting them was easier than I thought! After trying a few simple steps I found, my rhododendrons and azaleas even began to thrive amazingly, with more stunning blooms for the next season!
You need to check out these easy tricks I’m about to share with you!
Mulch Your Rhododendrons And Azaleas To Get Incredible Results
The best time to start protecting your rhododendrons and azaleas from the colder months is in October and November! Do you know what works best for keeping these flowers from freezing? Mulch works wonders!
When someone asks me for advice on how to keep plants safe from extremely cold temperatures, my answer is always to use mulch.
You can put a few layers of mulch around the base of your rhododendrons and azaleas right now! It’s best to use pine bark mulch, straw, leaves, or grass clippings. It’s a good idea to keep the clippings after fall mowing!
While applying mulch, make sure that it doesn’t touch the trunk of the rhododendrons or azaleas directly because it can cause rotting! Another great benefit of using mulch is that it keeps these shrubs weed-free! No more weeding for you.
Give This Powerful Duo A Little Trim
Just a little haircut for your rhododendrons and azaleas will keep them in good shape! By pruning them, you’ll ensure that more colorful flowers will appear when spring arrives. What is the best way to trim your rhododendrons and azaleas?
Rhododendrons should be cut just above a growth bud. Azaleas, on the other hand, should have about one-third of their branches removed. Make sure not to leave short branches, as this can lead to diseases! You can also prune any damaged or wilted leaves.
This Is The Best Watering Technique You Can Use
One of the most important tasks for taking care of these shrubs is to water them in the fall! Although they don’t require a large amount of water, you’ll still need to ensure that the soil is moist before winter arrives.
Rhododendrons and azaleas tend to thrive in moist conditions, which is why deep watering is what they need the most! Fill your watering can and water them so it reaches the roots far underground. Now your shrubs are ready to welcome the cold winter days!
Now that you know all these useful tips and tricks for preparing your rhododendrons and azaleas for the winter, it will be your easiest task this fall! When spring arrives, you’ll be welcomed by these charming shrubs that will make your life feel like a fairy tale.
If I hadn’t discovered these steps for protecting them in the cold days, I would have thought that I couldn’t save my flowers. But thanks to my research, anything is possible!
If you peeked into your garden and noticed that your shrubs are starting to slowly fade away, then it’s time for action. Start with mulching and do the rest the next day! You have the whole of October ahead of you, so you don’t have to hurry. Take your time and do the work well!