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Help Dead Branches
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Posted by debnh (My Page) on Fri, Jul 20, 07 at 8:51
| I recently moved into a house with 4 rhododendrons in the yard. I think they didn't get enough water this spring or were somehow abused last fall, because they have a lot of leafless branches. There is some new growth, but I like to know how to get the rest of the plant to recover. Should I cut back the leafless branches? If so, when? If I do cut them out, will the plant fill out again? |
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RE: Help Dead Branches
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| Rhododendrons have dormant buds under the bark. If the branch is still alive, it can recover. If a branch is alive, the area between the bark and the wood is green and it will start sprouting new buds with leaves. When the branch dies, the green layer disappears. It is good to cut off areas that are known to be dead. If you aren't sure, it is wise to wait a couple months. This dieback is usually caused by drought, or borers. In the east this year we had a very dry but mild winter followed by a hard cold snap. Many very hardy rhododendrons had a lot of dieback after this. It is unusual, but this spring we saw a lot of it. |
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