When to trim rhododendrons?

What time of year should they be trimmed - spring or fall?

When to trim rhododendrons?
I suppose you know that rhododendrons need very acid soil, well for all pertaining information please check the under mentioned site.





Bye and luck.
Reply:You should have already pruned them, right after they bloomed. They set next seasons blooms after the late spring flush. However, if you need to prune them because they are out of hand, you can do it now, but you will loose almost all of next years flowers. The only heavy pruning they need is when this occurs. The best type of pruning is not really pruning but "deadheading" the dried flowers after they bloom. By doing this, you can increase the flower production for next season. When the blooms dry up and there is just a dry umbrella looking skeleton of a flower left, grab it with your index finger and thumb. You may wish to wear some lightweight gloves, for this is a sticky job. At the base of what is left there will be a dark brown base with light colored stripes. Wiggle it back and forth a couple of times and it will break off easily. At the point of break, you will see little buds starting to push out from below this point, just above a set of leaves. These are next years flowers. Do not break off the old flower below this point. By deadheading in this manner, you will stop all the energy from going into seed production. Instead, you will be putting the energy into next years blooms. If you just "have to" prune large branches, go ahead and do it now. Rhodie's can handle a heavy pruning, no problem. It just may take a year or two to get back to flowering. Hope this answers your question.





**Billy Ray**
Reply:From:


http://www.daytonnursery.com/tips/Rhodod...





Most varieties of Rhododendrons and Azaleas will respond well to trimming. Just trim plants to shape. Azaleas may be trimmed anywhere along their stems and will regrow new sprouts. Rhododendrons like to be trimmed just above a fan of leaves as the new leaves will sprout from this cluster of leaves. You can "pinch" Rhododendrons to encourage bushier growth by breaking out the dominate center growth bud when new growth buds just begin to expand in spring. Do not pinch out the fat flower buds! After Rhododendron flowers fade, remove the old flowers and flower stalks for faster growth and more bloom the next spring.





Trim your plants right after they bloom. Trimming later in the growing season will cut off bloom for the next spring.





(there is more good info at the above link)