What spring temperature can rhododendrons withstand. Proper care of the rhododendron in the fall and preparing it for the winter. When to remove cover

The rhododendron, which the Greeks called the "rose tree" for its beautiful flowers of various shapes and colors, is ornamental shrub(or small tree) of the Heather family with dense glossy leaves and big flowers, blooming in spring and early summer.

Likes acidic soil and partial shade open sun may "burn out". Responds well to abundant watering, especially before wintering.

Rhododendrons also include azaleas bred in greenhouses and at home. They differ in the number of stamens (azaleas have five, in rhododendrons - seven or more) and in the form of the underside of the leaves (in azaleas it is smooth, in rhododendrons it is finely scaly).

Why is seasonal protection important for a flower?

Rhododendrons are native to the highlands of the northern hemisphere. Wild shrubs easily tolerate severe frosts that occur at high altitudes.

Reference. However, there are varieties bred by breeders (mostly evergreen), not so frost-resistant, and they must be covered for the winter. In addition, they do not tolerate strong winds(and blizzards are not uncommon in winter) and bright winter sun. Young plants that are acclimatizing and not yet too strong also need shelter.

Is it necessary to cover in the fall?

Deciduous rhododendrons (Dahurian, Japanese, yellow, Canadian), as a rule, do not need to be covered, you can only cover the root collar with mulch. Evergreens must be covered - from snow, from wind, and from sunburn. Even if the leaves of this plant withstand the cold due to the ability to save moisture, the flower buds will freeze and the shrub will lose its decorative effect.

More information about whether it is necessary to cover the rhododendron for the winter is written.

At what temperature?

Since rhododendrons are initially winter-hardy plants, they are not afraid of slight frosts. You can think about shelter when a stable low temperature is established - from -10 ° C and below.

Up to this point, you can even do harm by closing the bushes from slight cold weather: the root neck will begin to warm up and the plant will die. Dramatically changing weather - either frost or thaw - is also not useful for bushes.

In central Russia rhododendrons usually cover in mid-November, and judging by recent years when winter was late, then in early December.

The rhododendron bush is lignified, the trunk and branches can break under the weight of snow. Therefore, the shelter must be strong, light and reliable.

For the construction of the frame, you can use various materials:

• corrugated cardboard - suitable for low shrubs younger than a year old;
• plastic arcs for greenhouses;
• wooden blocks - a strong frame is constructed from them;
• metal arcs 6-10 mm thick (you can use an insulated cable);
• metal fittings;
• plywood.

As a covering material, it is best to use:

1. spunbond;
2. burlap;
3. garden batting.

Important! You can not cover the rhododendron plastic wrap- it creates unbearable conditions for the plant: accumulation of condensate without ventilation, which is why there is a high risk of developing preliminary or rot.

About how to cover the rhododendron for the winter and what material to choose, it is said.

Make a "house" yourself or buy ready-made?

If there is no time or opportunity to make a covering structure yourself, you can buy it. Inexpensive ready-made shelters for rhododendrons are sold in garden stores, consisting of a wire frame and a cover made of garden covering batting. They are easy to use: the plant can be quickly covered and quickly closed.

However, according to gardeners, the frames of such structures are not very strong. Therefore, if there is time, desire and necessary materials you can make a "house" for the rhododendron yourself.

Nuances for different types of azalea

All types of azaleas are very sensitive to lack of moisture, so the shelter protects not only from frost, but also from desiccation.

• deciduous azalea- a bush up to one and a half meters high with large flowers various shades from white to lilac. Before shelter, you need to bend the branches to the ground and sprinkle with oak leaf litter, peat or soil so that they do not freeze out in winter.
• japanese azalea- This is a dwarf variety of rhododendron (30–50 cm) with small flowers(3 cm) different colors from orange to pink. It can grow at home, and after flowering - and on the street. Before shelter, the Japanese azalea should be watered abundantly - before the onset of frost, and after cooling down to -10 ° C, cover with spunbond.
• evergreen azalea- a bush up to 1 m high, flowers with a diameter of 7 cm. mature plant well tolerates frosts down to -30 ° C. Only young azaleas need protection, which can be covered with spruce branches.
• Katevbinsky azalea, otherwise called multi-flowered, is one of the most winter-hardy varieties up to 2–3 m high with large (up to 15 cm) leathery leaves and lilac flowers. Fungicide treatment is recommended before wintering. severe frosts azalea katevbinskaya is not afraid, so she is sheltered from the wind and sun by making a frame of boards or bars, covered with non-woven material.

Some gardeners believe that all types of azaleas and rhododendrons should be covered for the winter - since winters can be very cold and windy.

How to close correctly - step by step instructions

Before shelter, be sure to abundantly water the bush under the root. and along the leaves and mulch to a height of 5 to 20 cm (depending on growth) trunk circle fallen oak leaves, rotted pine needles and peat.

Reference. For mulch it is better to take dry oak leaves because they take the longest to rot.

You will need materials for the manufacture of the frame:

1. saw;
2. screwdriver;
3. screws;
4. hacksaw for metal;
5. jigsaw for cutting plywood.

When using any frame, covering material will be needed:

• twine or special plastic fasteners;
• knife or scissors.

Choice of method

• First way:
  1. A frame is made of three boards or bars fastened in the form of a wigwam. Its height is calculated so that the shelter is at a distance of 15–20 cm from the branches.
  2. A ready-made purchased cover (or sewn independently) from covering material is pulled onto the frame so that the bottom of the cover lies on the ground.
  3. The cover is straightened, the part lying on the ground is pressed down with bricks or simply sprinkled with earth so that the shelter does not blow away from the wind.
• Second way:
  1. A vertical arc frame is constructed from plastic arcs (as for a greenhouse) or wire / cable (6–10 mm thick) in increments of 30–35 cm. Across the arcs, the wire is also fixed at a distance of 30 cm to get a semblance of a grid with cells.
  2. Covering material is thrown over the frame and fixed on top with the same frame or tied with twine. You can fix the spunbond with plastic fasteners.
  3. The bottom of the shelter is also pressed down with bricks or soil.

  Such a frame can be installed even before the onset of cold weather, leaving one end open for ventilation. When stable frosts are established (below -10 ° C), both ends are closed.

• Third way:
  1. Bush wrapped with metal or plastic mesh or simply put inclined supports around it - the height should be greater than the height of the bush itself.
  2. Spunbond (lutrasil) is thrown onto this mesh (supports), the bush is carefully covered and tied around with twine.
  3. The bottom of the shelter is pressed to the ground.

  Suitable for undersized varieties of rhododendron.

• Fourth way:
  1. They build a "stool", the legs of which can be wooden or metal fittings, and the roof - from a piece of plywood.
  2. The resulting structure is closed with a spunbod or lutrasil.
  3. The edges of the material are pressed to the ground.

  This method is also suitable for low-growing plants.

• Fifth way:
  1. In a cardboard box (it is better to take corrugated cardboard), holes are made for ventilation.
  2. The box is placed on a bush.
  3. The structure is covered with a covering material, the edges of which are attached to the soil.

  Suitable for young low bushes.

  Attention! You can not put spanbond on a bush without a frame - branches will break under the weight of snow and flower buds will be crushed. Any frame should not touch the branches, it is better if there is at least 15 cm to them.

1. If the shelter is too early, the root neck may begin to warm up, and the bush will die, in addition, the leaves will turn black due to condensation.
2. If the rhododendron is already covered and it is too difficult to disassemble the structure, you can simply open the spunbond on one side for air circulation.
3. If the shelter is too late, the leaves of the "rose tree" may curl into a tube. At the same time, they seem to gather into a fist, lowered down. Don't worry, because it natural process- twisted leaves save moisture, and "hanging" does not allow snow to accumulate on them.

When should you shoot?

In the spring, when the heat comes, you can remove the shelter from the rhododendrons. Warm up at the time of opening the bushes should not only air, but also the earth, because when the air is already well warmed up, and the ground is still frozen, the leaves begin to evaporate moisture, and the roots cannot yet get it. The plant begins to dry out. To speed up the process of thawing the soil, it is necessary to water the rhododendron.

Reference. You can open rhododendrons only on a cloudy day, as the leaves that have weakened over the winter are afraid of burns from the bright spring sun.

Useful video

More detailed information how to properly cover the rhodendron for the winter is presented in the video:

Conclusion

If you make the right “house” for the rhododendron and cover the bush in time, it will overwinter without problems and in the spring will delight gardeners with bright colors. beautiful flowers. It is important to know the rules for sheltering rhododendrons and azaleas for the winter and follow them.

Rhododendrons (Rhododendron) are perennial plants belonging to the Heather family. They have a large number of species and can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs and trees. Their size and shape also vary considerably. Some varieties are less than half a meter high, while others grow up to four meters. There are also creeping forms of the plant. Translated from Latin name flower sounds like "rose tree". Apparently, it was given to him for the similarity of buds with roses.

Rhododendrons are quite whimsical plants. Therefore, in addition to the creation and proper care during the growing season, they need to provide right conditions wintering. Otherwise, they may freeze completely or partially, which will lead to the development various diseases and lack of flowering. Therefore, many gardeners are interested in the question: is it necessary to cover rhododendrons for the winter.

How to prepare a rhododendron for winter

It is possible to leave a rhododendron during the winter without shelter only in southern regions where there is practically no frost. In other areas, in particular in the Moscow region, in Leningrad region, in the middle lane, in the Urals, in Siberia, it is necessary to warm these plants before wintering, especially flowering hybrid varieties. To do this, you need to know how to properly cover the rhododendron for the winter.

Before you send the plant for the winter, you need to carry out appropriate preparations that will help him safely survive the winter cold.

pruning

Before sheltering the plant, it must be cut

Before you cover the plant for the winter, you need to spend it correct pruning. This will help him avoid the development of various diseases during wintering and in early spring. Also, this procedure will contribute to the formation of a lush and beautiful crown in the next season.

First of all, complete removal of broken and dried branches is carried out. The remaining stems are cut to one third. Places of cuts should be treated with crushed activated carbon to avoid development infectious diseases. For bushes that are too old, cardinal pruning is carried out, leaving the height of the shoots no more than 40 centimeters from the soil. You also need to remove any remaining inflorescences so that they do not rot and do not cause infections.

Watering and feeding

In order for the plant to gain strength after flowering and safely endure wintering, it is necessary to lead until the end of autumn abundant watering, pouring at least 20 liters of soft, settled water under each adult bush. This must be done, since in plants the evaporation of moisture continues in winter period. Therefore, they need to ensure its necessary supply before wintering. If the autumn turned out to be too rainy, then you need to water the rhododendrons as needed.

You also need to fertilize rhododendrons with fertilizers in the middle of the autumn period. large quantity potassium, iron and sulfur. They should not contain nitrogen, as it will cause the growth of new shoots that will die in winter. This will cause great harm to the condition of the plants.

Since rhododendrons have a superficial root system, after processing the soil, it is necessary to mulch the soil well with peat sawdust or dry foliage with a layer of fifteen to thirty centimeters, depending on the size of the plant. On top of it you can put spruce branches. This will prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, and also protect the roots from freezing.

In autumn, the soil at the base of the plant must be mulched.

In parallel with this, it is necessary to carry out the equipment of a small groove, through which melt water will leave in the spring. If its stagnation is formed, then root system, weakened after the winter of rhododendron, can rot, which will cause the death of the plant.

How to properly cover rhododendrons

Beginners in gardening who live in regions with harsh winters, often interested in the question of at what temperature to cover rhododendrons? This is done after the first frosts come and a stable temperature of at least ten degrees below zero is established. Sheltering bushes in warmer times can result in rotting of the root collar, as condensation will form inside.

Shelter of frost-resistant varieties

Shelter of rhododendron with non-woven material

To frost-resistant varieties include, as a rule, deciduous rhododendrons (Japanese, Kamchatka, Canadian, Dahurian and others). Many of them calmly tolerate frosts up to 35 degrees. When sending them for the winter, it is enough to trim, process and mulch them, after which you need to wrap them with burlap and tie them with a rope to secure it. The advantage of such a cover is that it is breathable.

Young plants that have a small height, with the onset of frost, you can simply cover carton box right size. First you need to make a small hole in it for air access. You can also just carefully overlay them with spruce branches. After a sufficient amount of snow falls, you can additionally cover the constructed shelter with it.

Shelter of non-frost-resistant varieties

Unlike deciduous, evergreen plant varieties (Caucasian, Pontic, Katevbinsky and others) are not frost-resistant and rather capricious. They are very picky both in terms of care and wintering, so you need to know how to cover the rhododendron for the winter. It must be carefully insulated even in regions with relatively warm winters. If this is not done, then due to frozen buds in the next season, the flowering of the plant may not occur.

Before you cover the rhododendron, after preparing for wintering, you need to bend the branches of tall specimens to the soil and fix them. After that, you need to spread spruce branches between them, which will serve additional insulation. undersized plants do not bend down, their stems are collected in a bundle and tied with a rope. This is done so that the kidneys are not damaged. After that, rhododendrons are covered with spruce branches or dry foliage and frames for shelters are installed. There are several ways to build reliable protection for rhododendrons, frames for warming them must be installed in advance in not yet frozen soil:

A spruce frame is one of the ways to shelter a rhododendron

• Hut. Pegs in the form of a hut are installed around the plant.
• Arcs. They are installed over a bent or bundled bush with a gap of about 35 centimeters;
• Stool. Around the rhododendron, four thick slats of wood or metal are installed perpendicular to the soil in the form of stool legs. After the shelter is made, boards, plywood or some other material are laid on the slats.

The frames must be installed so that a distance of about 30 centimeters remains between them and the plant. This will provide the plant comfortable conditions wintering. If this is not done, then if the shelter sags under the weight of snow, it may be damaged.

With the onset of frost, the prepared frames are wrapped with covering material and carefully tied with a rope along the entire height. At the bottom of the shelter, you need to leave a supply of material about thirty centimeters. A plastic film is applied over it and fastened with a stapler. This is done so that during the melting of snow, the shelter does not get wet.

Covering rhododendrons with covering material

Under one side of the shelter on the ground, it is recommended to lay a metal or plastic pipe small diameter, so that at one end it comes out. This will provide air access to the plant. After that, you need to sprinkle the shelter from below with soil and lay bricks or some other heavy objects on top of it. This will strengthen the shelter and prevent the wind from damaging it.

When to take cover

Do not remove the shelter from the rhododendrons as soon as the snow melts. This should be done only after the soil has completely warmed up and there is no threat. spring frosts. Train the plant to be aggressive spring sun it is necessary gradually, removing the shelter in the morning or evening for several hours. If you remove the structure without preparation, the bushes weakened during the winter can get a sunburn of the stems and young leaves. When the insulation is completely removed, you need to free the rhododendron from the fortifications and ropes with which it was fixed, as well as clean it from spruce branches and old mulch and loosen the soil around the plant.

After that, it is necessary to conduct a preventive examination of the rhododendron. It is best to do this on a warm but cloudy day. If the branches have drooped a lot, and the foliage of evergreen specimens has twisted, then watering should be done immediately. In the future, you need to spray the plant daily in order to quickly restore the elasticity of the stems and leaves. You also need to check the flower for diseases and pests. If they are present, appropriate treatment should be carried out immediately to prevent their further spread. Also at this time, you need to feed the rhododendron with fertilizers containing a large amount of nitrogen. This will stimulate the growth of green mass.

Experienced gardeners give several useful tips to prepare rhododendrons for winter:

Preparation of rhododendron for wintering: installation of frames for subsequent shelter

• Often due to warm and rainy weather, excess nitrogen fertilizers or for some other reason, rhododendrons begin to grow actively in autumn, forming new shoots that do not have time to adapt to winter. To prevent their growth and cause rapid lignification, it is necessary to spray the plants with potassium sulfate or monophosphate. They should be diluted at the rate of: 10 grams of the drug per 1 liter of water. This will also stimulate the formation of flower buds, and if overwintered correctly, this will ensure abundant flowering in the next season.
• To shelter a rhododendron for the winter, it is best to use spanbond, agrotex or lutrasil.
• In mid-autumn, it is recommended to spray plants with drugs that increase immunity, for example,.
• It is not necessary to mulch the base of the trunk, it is better to fill it with coarse sand to avoid rotting and death of the bush.

Although rhododendrons are quite finicky plants, their popularity among gardeners is growing every year. This is due to the abundant and very beautiful flowering, as well as a lush crown, which can become a worthy decoration for any garden plot. Of course, these plants require increased attention and physical costs for their care, including preparation for winter. Properly conducted wintering is a guarantee that the shoots and flower buds will be preserved, and the rhododendron will delight with its luxurious branches and magnificent buds throughout the next season.

You can get acquainted with the intricacies of sheltering rhododendrons for the winter in the proposed video material. Happy viewing!

Rhododendron (Rhododendron) is a beautiful perennial ornamental plant, able to decorate absolutely any garden with their flowers. A large number of its species are deciduous, evergreen shrubs and trees or creeping plants. The shapes and sizes of rhododendrons vary considerably. Some of them are less than 0.5 meters high, while others reach 4 meters. Despite the variety of species, they all require preparation for winter. To preserve their beauty, these plants need to be well cared for and protected from the cold for the winter.

Before sheltering a rhododendron for the winter, you need to determine its type and age. Some of the species can easily withstand low temperatures up to -35 degrees, but they can also suffer in the absence of snow, icing, temperature fluctuations and bright spring rays of the sun.

Other species require protection, even from moderate cold.

Young bushes of any kind of rhododendrons up to the age of three are covered in any case.

When to cover, at what temperature

Shelter of rhododendrons is carried out in several stages and sometimes stretches for several weeks.

Full shelter for the winter is carried out at a stable average daily air temperature of about - 8-10 degrees of cold.

In the Moscow region and in Central Russia, rhododendrons take cover from late October to mid-November. More exact dates are determined by the weather.

Shelter of rhododendrons in the Urals is held in October. With the onset of a stable air temperature - 8-10 degrees, the plant is finally wrapped up for the winter.

In Siberia, protective measures are taken from the third decade of September to the end of October, the main thing is that the plant is covered before snow falls and a colder than - 10 degrees below zero.

In the Leningrad region, bushes hide until mid-November. With earlier frosts, the shelter procedure is transferred and carried out immediately.

Preparing a rhododendron for shelter

Before sheltering rhododendrons for the winter, plants undergo a number of preparatory procedures. All of them contribute to a better wintering of the shrub.

Potassium, sulfuric and iron-containing fertilizers are taken to feed the bushes. They ensure the maturation of growths on the plant, and strengthen the immunity of the plant.

Use nitrogen fertilizers in autumn period it is forbidden! They stimulate the growth of new shoots, and the plants do not have time to prepare for winter, which worsens their chances of overwintering.

In warm and rainy weather in autumn, sometimes young shoots appear on the bushes. To speed up their rapid maturation and prevent the emergence of new shoots, the bushes are treated with 1% sodium sulfate solution or monophosphate. After processing, the lignification of the stems and the laying of flower buds occur.

There are several types of pruning that are carried out when caring for rhododendrons, these are: sanitary, shaping and rejuvenating pruning.

In evergreen bushes, the crown in most cases is formed naturally and does not need special pruning, but deciduous shrubs have to be equalised.

Sanitary and shaping pruning is carried out in early spring when sap flow has not yet begun. The branches are cut to dormant buds. In autumn, only rejuvenating pruning of shrubs is carried out.

Anti-aging pruning should be done 2 weeks before the onset of frost and 2 weeks after top dressing. Usually this event is held in late September - mid-October.

When sanitary pruning on a shrub, broken and dried branches are removed.

With formative pruning, plants are cut to 1/3 of the entire length. The thickness of the pruned shoots in this case should reach 4 centimeters.

With anti-aging pruning, plants are pruned more strongly. Old shoots are shortened to a height of 40 centimeters.

They are cut in 2 stages. One half of the plant is shortened in the first year, the second - in the second. Such an interval contributes to a faster recovery of the bush.

Sections, after any pruning, are smeared with garden pitch or sprinkled with crushed activated charcoal to protect against infections.

To acidify the soil and protect the bushes from fungi, colloidal sulfur and iron-containing preparations are embedded in the soil with a rake.

At the end of September - October, the bushes are sprayed with drugs that increase immunity, for example, Zircon.

Before wintering, the bushes are processed blue vitriol, Bordeaux liquid or Fitosporin.

Rhododendrons. Preparing for winter: video

There are several types of shelter rhododendrons.

Frost-resistant varieties are covered with spunbond, lutrasil or burlap. The material is simply fixed on the bush with a rope.

Young bushes are covered with spruce branches, paper boxes.

Plants that are not resistant to cold are covered more reliably and in their case such shelter options are used as:

• Hut. Stakes in the form of a hut are placed around the bush.
• Arcs. They are installed over bundled or pinned branches with a gap of 20-35 centimeters above them.
• Stool. Around the bush, 4 thick metal or wooden slats are placed (indented from the top of the bush by 30 centimeters) perpendicular to the ground in the form of stool legs. Plywood or boards are laid out on the slats.

With the onset of frost finished frames I wrap myself with a covering material and fix it with a rope. A plastic film is laid on top of it and fastened with a stapler.

Regardless of species, all rhododendrons require some protection during the winter.

When frost sets in, the trunk circle of the bush is covered with peat mulch, pine needles or sawdust. For young low plants, the shelter should reach 5-10 centimeters, and for tall ones - 30 centimeters. The diameter of the mulched surface should be equal to the diameter of the crown.

Frost-resistant deciduous rhododendrons (Daurian, Japanese, Canadian, Kamchatka and others) take cover for the winter to protect them from possible thaws, icing and bright spring rays. Many of them easily tolerate cold temperatures down to -35 degrees. Sending them for wintering, after pruning, processing and mulching, bushes with a height of 1.5 meters or more are tied to a wooden or metal stake, wrapped in burlap or spunbond and securely tied with a rope.

Young, low plants, with the onset of frost, are covered with a cardboard box with holes for air outlet or spruce branches. After a sufficient amount of snow has fallen, the shelter is additionally covered with a snow cover.

Non-frost resistant evergreen species rhododendrons (Caucasian, Pontic, Katevbinsky and others) require especially careful shelter.

Low bushes do not bend down, their stems are collected in a bundle and neatly tied with a rope.

Tall plants are bent to the ground and fixed with metal studs or wooden slingshot. Spruce branches are laid out between the stems on the ground (on top of the mulch).

The shelter of the rhododendron is made using a kind of frame.

Above the bush, a hut is being built from wire, arcs, polypropylene pipes or spruce. They are arranged so that between the protective material and the stems there is a gap of 20-30 centimeters. The frame is securely fixed in the ground. Several layers of covering material, for example, spunbond, lutrasil cover the frame. If the weather is rainy, a film is thrown from above.

The shelter is not completely fixed from below; the plant must breathe before the onset of persistent frosts. Part of the material (with south side), rises by 20-30 centimeters and is fixed for air access. The rest of the shelter is covered with earth or pressed down with bricks.

If the leaves on the bush have not yet fallen, then the plant needs air, and it is not yet possible to cover it completely. The shelter closes tightly when the temperature fluctuations stop and the bush completely sheds all the leaves.

To drain condensate from the bottom of the shelter, a polypropylene tube is installed with an outlet to the outside.

When snow falls, the protective shelter is additionally insulated with snow infusion.

When to open in spring?

In the spring, with the onset warm days and the descent of the snow cover begins the opening of rhododendrons. Shelter is removed gradually, first for a short period of time in the morning or evening, and gradually increasing the interval.

After removing the shelter, the plant undergoes a thorough inspection.

damaged leaves evergreen bushes are cut off.

Twisted, drooping stems speak of loss a large number moisture for the winter. Watering and spraying the bush allows you to restore the plant.

How to cover evergreen rhododendrons for the winter: video

Rhododendrons are often found on household plots and in park areas in many regions of Russia. Experienced gardeners who grow shrubs professionally know well what kind of care they need before winter, they do it according to all the rules. In order for even novice flower growers to know how to prepare rhododendrons for winter, there are several tips.

Since autumn, water-charging watering of the bushes has been carried out, since they cannot do without a supply of moisture during this period. Watering is carried out in dry weather, as the soil dries up under the bushes. Water for these purposes is taken only soft and settled! If necessary, it is acidified citric acid or lemon juice.

After watering, the earth must be mulched so that the moisture does not evaporate, but goes to the roots. Watering continues even after the arrival of cold weather, and stops only after the ground freezes.

To protect against melt water, an earthen mound and a groove are formed around the bush at a short distance from the base.

Pruning bushes that have never bloomed should not be done! This delays the flowering of the bush for 2-3 years. To form a sprawling bush, shoots are pinched in young specimens.

Evergreen species of rhododendrons require more thorough shelter than deciduous ones.

So that there is no stagnation of condensate under the covering material, a piece of polypropylene tube is placed under the film, which will be an air vent.

It is impossible to open shrubs in the spring immediately after warming, without preparation, it is better to first open the bush for a while.

Early opening may lead to sunburn and cracking of the bark on the stems, which leads to bush disease.

Rhododendrons are a real decoration of any garden. These beautiful shrubs at good care and reliable winter protection delight with their flowering for many years. It is impossible to neglect the shelter of rhododendrons, because any gardener will reproach himself if this beauty dies.

Rhododendron - delicate flower, which is increasingly found in summer cottages. He was nicknamed "rose tree" for large pink flowers. However, he requires special care, including preparing for winter, as low temperatures can be detrimental to him. In today's article we will tell you how to prepare a rhododendron for winter.

It is important to care for these flowers not only during the flowering period, but also after it. It depends on this whether they will please you next season. abundant flowering. Caring for rhododendrons begins in the fall, and consists, first of all, in careful pruning of plants. In summer, it is necessary to prune only wilted flowers, as well as those parts of the plant that have been affected by diseases or pests. But in the fall, this procedure must be approached with special attention. Now we will talk about why this is necessary, and when it is better to prune these delicate plants.

Why is pruning needed?

This procedure has two main tasks: to preserve the beauty of the flower and protect it from diseases. The fact is that through frozen or withered shoots, pathogens can penetrate into the rhododendron. Anti-aging pruning is carried out so that the plant blooms magnificently after wintering and delights you with its pink flowers. In general, this is an important element of care, and should not be neglected if you want to save your flowers.

The best time for pruning

Surely everyone has heard that pruning is carried out not only in autumn, but also in spring. However, here we are dealing with various types pruning, each of which has a specific purpose. So, at the beginning of March, all damaged areas plants to protect it from diseases and pests. But in the fall it is customary to carry out anti-aging pruning. This strengthens the bush before wintering and gives good help for lush flowering next season. Optimal timing for the operation - a few weeks before the onset of frost. Also note that rhododendrons are pruned two weeks after fertilization.

You calculate the exact dates yourself, based on climatic conditions in your region. In general, the procedure is carried out from the end of September to mid-October, as far as the climate of your region allows.

How to crop

Shelter material

Here it is necessary to take into account the features of the plant that we will cover. The shoots of a flower can break under the weight of snow, so in addition to covering material, it needs a frame. For the frame, the following materials are used:

1. Corrugated cardboard. This material is only suitable for sheltering young annual plants who have not grown too high yet.
2. Plastic arcs for greenhouses.
3. Wooden sticks.
4. Metal arcs.
5. Metal armature.
6. Plywood.

In principle, if you have any of these materials on hand, you can safely use it. Just build a frame around your bush, and cover it with covering material on top and sides. You can use elements like this:

• spunbond;
• sackcloth;
• garden batting.

In no case do not use plastic wrap, as you will destroy your flowers. It does not allow air to pass through, and condensate quickly accumulates inside it. This leads to rotting of plants.

Also, do not forget to mulch before shelter, providing the root zone additional protection from low temperatures.

Features of insulation for different types

There are nuances associated with the variety of rhododendrons. Below we consider the features of covering events for each of them:

1. Deciduous. They are the easiest to cover, since we are only dealing with stems. A cone-shaped shelter is ideal. Around the bush, it is necessary to drive several flexible pins into the ground, and connect them from above to make it look like a hut. The covering material itself is put on this design. For reliability, the stems are additionally wrapped with a layer of covering material, providing double protection.
2. Evergreen and semi-evergreen. Everything is more complicated here and you will need to build a frame. For example, you can take four boards and build a kind of box without a bottom. From the inside, you can insulate it with cardboard. Such a frame is “put on” on the plant, closed on top with a board or a sheet of plywood, and wrapped with non-woven material. The latter is fixed with a rope.

In conclusion, let's say that residents need to cover rhododendrons middle lane (Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow region, Rostov-on-Don, etc.). But in northwestern regions, where it is observed high humidity air, flowers hibernate without shelter.

Rhododendron is a shrub that can be successfully grown not only in the Moscow region and the Leningrad region, but also in Siberia and the Urals. To do this, you need to take into account the characteristics of the selected variety and know how to save it in the winter. Absolutely all rhododendrons need additional shelter for the winter, since flower buds form on last year's branches, and if they freeze, then flowering can not wait. The task of every gardener is to keep shrubs until spring in the same form as they were in autumn.

AT wild nature rhododendrons can be found on Sakhalin, in North America, in Kamchatka, where they winter without any shelter. But those rhododendrons that can be found in gardens are hybrids bred by breeders. They improved their decorative qualities but become susceptible to negative weather conditions. Therefore, for wintering, they need additional shelter.

In order for the plant to overwinter well, it is necessary to fertilize 2 times in the fall with fertilizers with great content potassium. This will allow all young shoots to mature and set flower buds for early spring flowering. To do this, you can use superphosphate at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water. For deciduous varieties this is where all the preparation ends.

For evergreen and semi-evergreen rhododendrons, it is necessary to carry out regular watering during the fall, as their foliage constantly evaporates moisture, even in the autumn-winter period. Lack of moisture during this period will cause the shrub to dry out.

Watering should be carried out 1 time in 5 days at the rate of 5 liters of water for one plant, the procedures must be carried out before the onset of stable frosts. late autumn water should be warmed up a little.

Shelter of rhododendrons for the winter is carried out when the night and day temperatures are within 3–5 degrees below zero, which will make it possible to harden the plant before wintering.

A feature of rhododendrons is that they have a superficial root system, so the shrub at the base needs additional cover with mulch. For this, dry pine needles or sphagnum moss with a layer of at least 15–20 cm are suitable.

Shelter for deciduous varieties

Deciduous rhododendrons need a minimum shelter for the winter, which is carried out in stages:

1. 1 Pins or bars are driven in at a height slightly higher than the rhododendron.
2. 2 At the top, the rods are tied together to make a hut.
3. 3 The rhododendron bush should be carefully tied so that it is compact, but without damaging the shoots.
4. 4 From above, the plant should be wrapped with any covering material.
5. 5 On the resulting frame is put on nonwoven fabric, as a result of which an air gap is formed between the double shelter, which guarantees a good wintering for the bush.
6. 6 At the bottom, the shelter should be pressed with bricks so that the wind does not eventually blow it away.

Initially, near the base, it is necessary to leave a hole for ventilation until constant frost sets in. After the winter weather sets in, everything should be closed tightly.

Rules for sheltering evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs

These varieties need more thorough shelter for the winter, as they do not shed their foliage in autumn, it must be preserved until spring.

To cover rhododendrons, use natural materials, which will not only warm the plant, but will not cause any harm.

In order for rhododendrons to preserve their foliage and flower buds as much as possible, the following stages of their shelter for the winter should be carried out:

1. 1 If possible, carefully tie the branches of the rhododendron with a rope, but do not break them.
2. 2 Build a wooden box from 4 bars and wooden planks in height slightly higher than a bush, without a bottom and without a top.
3. 3 For particularly tender varieties, cover with inside it should also be insulated with a layer of cardboard, attaching it with a construction stapler.
4. 4 Install the box around the shrub, after insulating the base of the bush with pine mulch.
5. 5 As soon as a constant air temperature is below 3 degrees, the shelter is covered with any material at hand, such as roofing material, old garden furniture, hardboard.
6. 6 From above, the structure should be wrapped with spunbond and additionally secured with a rope.
7. 7 Additionally, everything is covered with a film on top, which will save the plant from possible thaws or prolonged rains.