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rhododendron curling leaves

sunbeam's picture

rhododendron curling leaves (post #11767)

sunbeam on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 17:27
in

Help!  I have a at least 15 year old Rhododendron and I live in zone 6 we had a hard winter.  On my Rhododendron some leaves look healthy but alot of the leaves are curled and brown.  What is this from and what can I do?  Thanks for your help.

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the country gardener's picture

(post #11767, reply #1 of 6)

by the country gardener in reply to sunbeam [original] on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 02:21

It is very possible the hard winter has caused the curling and browning. We are seeing a bit of that this year here in the PNW because of the really nasty cold-snap last December and the repeated freezes since.

Marty


"The plants have been good to us."  Lester Hawkins

Marty

"The plants have been good to us."  Lester Hawkins

sunbeam's picture

(post #11767, reply #2 of 6)

by sunbeam in reply to Anonymous [original] on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 12:36

Thanks thats what i figured.  So the only thing I can do is to prune the dead branches off?

jeana's picture

(post #11767, reply #3 of 6)

by jeana in reply to Anonymous [original] on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 16:29

If the leaves are actually turning tan or brown AND clinging to the branches, then yes, those branches are dead. Another way to check is to look at the ends of the branches. If they have green buds on the ends, they're alive. The dead ones will have brown buds or the buds will not have swollen, as live ones would have by now. Cut back to where you see live buds.

Jeana

Never try to baptize a cat.

Jeana Never try to baptize a cat.
sunbeam's picture

(post #11767, reply #5 of 6)

by sunbeam in reply to Anonymous [original] on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 19:16

Thank you for your help.

Pams-poseys's picture

(post #11767, reply #4 of 6)

by Pams-poseys in reply to sunbeam [original] on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 17:18

I live in zone 7 and I have quite a few rhodies, but only a few have buds on them this year. They have bloomed in the past. The plant looks healthy but no flower buds. Any suggestions on why or what I can do for next year?

1946's picture

(post #11767, reply #6 of 6)

by 1946 in reply to Anonymous [original] on Thu, 04/02/2009 - 15:40

Did you possibly have a very dry late summer/early fall? Sometimes when it is too dry at the time they are setting their buds for the next year they will not set many buds. More then likely they will be fine next year.