" The author of the following text and photos is Wiesława Sierota from Tarnowska Góra, a reader of the magazine Przepis na Ogród. "
Perfect place to plant rhododendrons
Unique in terms of saturation and richness of colors flowers make rhododendrons reign supreme in gardens.From May to June, an incredibly colorful spectacle of these plants takes place.They could not be missing around my home.
In large gardens, rhododendrons should be composed in groups. Plants are best selected in terms of size, habit and color of flowers. Single specimens look beautiful as solitaire.Miniature varieties can be grown in containers and rock gardens. These shrubs should be planted under large trees, because they can tolerate even a lot of shade - especially rhododendrons.Azaleas are more tolerant of sunlight.
Rhododendrons correspond to air saturated with water vapor and wet, cloudy weather.They feel best in moderate temperatures without sudden fluctuations.Therefore they are almost national plants in England, the Netherlands and other coastal countries.
Since we buy rhododendrons in containers, we can plant them throughout the season.
It is worth mentioning that the ornaments of these plants are not only beautiful, multi-colored flowers, but also leaves.In rhododendrons they are large, dark green. Those in azaleas turn carmine or orange in autumn. Therefore, I successfully recommend them for planting in winter gardens. In autumn, we will treat ourselves to a feast of fiery colors, and in winter, we will gain green accents in a snowy scenery.
" The author of the text and photos below is the reader of the magazine Przepis na Ogród - Krystyna Stańczak from Wrocław. "
Suitable soil for rhododendrons
Due to the poor soil on the plot, we chose only those flowers and shrubs that are not too demanding.Rhododendrons turned out to be a bull's eye.They are extremely decorative, but also very durable. They are not afraid of low temperatures, and they simply love acid soil.
Proper planting determines how these plants will develop. After digging the hole, ordinary soil should be replaced with acid peat. Thanks to this treatment, rhododendrons will accept more easily and take root faster. Acid peat also proved to be effective in the case of diseases of these plants. When the leaves of the rhododendrons started to turn yellow, I sought help in professional literature. It turned out to be a symptom of iron deficiency caused by too high soil pH.The easiest way to deal with the problem was to sprinkle acid peat in the ground around the rhododendrons.
After the flowering period, which begins in May and lasts from 3 to 4 weeks, remove all faded inflorescences. Dry buds only unnecessarily burden the plant.
Preparations for winter are also not very laborious, because rhododendrons tolerate low temperatures quite well. Just eat abundantly
water and cover the ground with leaves and bark. Azaleasprefer a slightly thicker layer of such insulation, because during cold winters (below -20˚C) they sometimes freeze.
Today we can boast of both potted varieties and very branchy shrubs.
Problems with naming
The genus Rhododendron, or rhododendron, includes several hundred species of shrubs.Outside Europe, they are found mainly in Asia and North America. For three centuries, scientists have been trying to group individual plants, often difficult to distinguish. For the sake of simplicity, gardeners divide the genus Rhododendron into:Rhododendronswith evergreen leaves andazaleas- with leaves falling for the winter.
