Horticulture Tips from Wareham Garden Club

PRUNING RHODYS AND FORSYTHIA

This is perfect timing for pruning those early flowering azaleas, rhododendrons and forsythia.   Water your shrubs before pruning to relieve stress.  Spend time looking at your shrub.  All shrubs should have damaged or diseased wood or rubbing, crossing branches removed.

Azaleas differ from rhododendrons in being generally smaller and having one blossom per stem rather than blossom clusters.  Azaleas can bud out all along the stem.  Early flowering varieties form next year’s buds over 8-10 weeks once the temperature is over 65 degrees, so now is a great time to prune.   First, remove damaged wood and branches that rub against another branch.  Next remove a few old branches every year to rejuvenate the shrub.  Choose branches that, when removed, will let in more light or bring your shrub to a better height.

Rhododendron branching can be encouraged by pinching off terminal growth buds before the leaves fully expand (terminal growth buds are slim, flower buds are fat).  Rhododendrons do not always put out new growth from stubs, so cut back judiciously.  The general rule is that the buds just beneath the pruning cut will have more vigorous growth.  Cut above an outward facing bud to encourage growth in that direction.

Forsythia is at their glory when the naturally graceful, arching branches are covered in golden yellow.  PLEASE do not shear these to form a ball, but instead encourage the natural growth habit.  Remove selected old branches at ground level.   This lets in more light and your shrub will flower better, with fewer bare areas.

Wareham Garden Club
P.O. Box 3276
Wareham, MA 02571
Phone: 508-291-1643
Hours: Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 12:30 p.m.