Inherited garden: Rhododendron

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I have several Rhododendron bushes in my garden. Their flowers started to come out in mid-May, with one exception. This is the one in the vase, a young bush, and it blossomed earlier, late April. I think it is an Azalea.

Rhododendron like acidic soil and plenty of water, but dislike tap-water (hard tap-water reduces acidity in soil). Good thing that it rains so much where I live. They like a good amount of acidic mulch such as chipped conifer bark, that should be renewed each spring when the soil is still moist. They do not need to be pruned, except for the removal of unhealthy, dead, diseased and damaged shoots, unless some shaping is required. If necessary, prune immediately after flowering. Do this by lightly cutting back shoots. Here you can read more about it.

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