Rhododendron ‘Olga Mezitt’ Gardening It’s true − rhododendrons are fussy plants and need specific circumstances for successful growing. But if you can meet their requirements, you’ll have generous clouds of flowers every spring. Rhododendrons grow best in dappled sunlight or, at most, an eastern exposure with morning sun; and will not do well in full sun or full shade. Too much sun directly on leaves will burn them; and too much winter wind exposure will desiccate leaf tissues. Rhododendrons require good drainage and fertile acid soil (pH 4.5 to 5.5), high in organic content. And they require consistent moisture. Not sounding like an easy plant to live with? The first key to success with rhododendrons (and their azalea cousins) is to provide the best possible soil in the hole on planting day. Dig a generous hole, remove the soil and take it away to another part of the garden. Mix a new soil made up of half composted animal manure (purchased in bags) and half organic material such as peat moss, leaves, conifer needles and shredded bark. Use the mix to plant the shrub, filling the hole entirely with the new soil. The fertile organic mix will work toward temporarily buffering alkalinity in your garden soil; you can increase the acid content in the hole by mixing in pelletized sulfur (ask for this at a garden centre). Rhododendron fertilizer products containing soil acidifier are also available. Provide water regularly and put down a generous organic mulch of leaves and needles around the plant every autumn. The second step is to select a plant with demonstrated ability to withstand soil alkalinity. The PJMGroup of hybrid rhododendrons performs well in most regions and grows even in cold Calgary, Alberta. The best known is ‘PJM’, growing to about five feet high and wide, hardy to zone 3, with bold lavender-pink flowers, and red foliage in autumn. Also in the group are ‘PJM Elite’, ‘PJM Regal’, ‘PJM Compact’, pink-flowered ‘Olga Mezitt’, ‘Aglo’ and ‘Pink Diamond’. Getting the best shrub into a customized hole on planting day could make rhododendrons an easy success in your garden. Rhododendrons – two steps to success CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 49
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