Rhododendrons are not very large shrubs, characterized by the extraordinary beauty of the flowers, able to decorate any area. They are quite unpretentious, tenuous and resistant to moderate cold. For the good growth and development of such a shrub, it is necessary to follow the simple rules of care, pruning and top dressing, as well as occasionally replanting a plant. Correct transplantation is an important, but not very difficult process, if you know all the subtleties and nuances.
Rhododendron transplant in spring and autumn: which is better
Transplantation of rhododendron bushes to a new place or the first landing is performed both in spring and autumn. Of course, it is necessary to observe some simple rules.
Rhododendrons - a delightful decoration of the garden
- In spring, rhododendron transplantation is carried out depending on the region of growth in the period from April to May. In warmer places a little earlier (Middle lane), and in colder places a little later (Siberia, Ural, etc.).
- In autumn, it is better to transplant from September to mid-October in order to catch before the first frost.
- Deciduous species of shrubs are best planted or transplanted only in the spring, so that they have time to root well and survive the winter.
- In conditions of strong temperature changes and the presence of extremely low temperatures, transplanting and planting is also better to be done in the spring, for better adaptation to the climate.
Important! Categorically you can not disturb the plant during flowering and two weeks after its completion.
What to choose a place for transplantation
Rhododendrons have a superficial root system and do not tolerate excess moisture, so it is absolutely impossible to plant them in places with stagnation of groundwater, in lowlands or wetlands. It is also worth considering that the shrub is quite shade-loving, so the northern or eastern side of the site will be the best place to plant, without direct sunlight from the midday.
Planting bushes under the canopy of taller trees, but only with a deep, rod root system, is a good solution, otherwise the rhododendron will not have enough nutrition. Best plant is adjacent to tall conifers.
To the question of whether it is possible to plant rhododendrons in the sun: such an option is possible, but only on the condition that direct sunlight will not fall on the plant from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rhododendron will suit only diffused light or light shading. Moreover, deciduous varieties prefer a greater amount of sunlight than evergreen.
Important! It is necessary to choose places for planting where there is no strong wind, otherwise the plant may not survive the winter.
A bad place to land will be an open area with prevailing winds, as well as places near buildings where there are frequent drafts - if the plant does not suffer much from it in summer, then in winter there is a risk of bush freezing.
Preparation of soil and tanks for transplantation
It is very important to consider what kind of soil rhododendron loves: preference is given to acidic soils, with a pH from 3 to 4.5. Peat soil is the best solution, but you can also prepare the substrate yourself. The main criteria are good breathability and drainage, so it is important to ensure good soil looseness.
Depending on the type of soil on the site, the substrate is made in various ways:
- for loam, a mixture of horse peat, humus, pine needles and directly garden soil is well suited, while the proportion of peat should be greater;
- for sandy soils, part of loam, peat and humus increases.
One of the best land mixtures for rhododendrons, regardless of the characteristics of the main soils, is peat, humus, needles and sand in a ratio of 3: 2: 1: 1. It is not superfluous to add about 40 grams of mineral fertilizers to it and mix thoroughly.
It's important to know! Dung, sawdust, chernozem, grassroots peat and foliage cannot be added to the substrate for rhododendrons.
In the event that the transplant is carried out not in open ground, but in the landing capacity, it is necessary to choose its size based on the current size of the root coma, + 20-30% of the volume. This allows you to continue the development of the root system. It is important to provide good drainage to avoid stagnation of water and decay of the roots.
Neighbor selection and transplant distance
In order for the bushes to grow and develop well, it is necessary to choose the right place with favorable "neighbors".
An ideal neighborhood would be planting next to conifers such as larch, spruce or pine. In the garden, apple trees, cherry trees, pears and oaks will be a good neighborhood.
Important! Categorically it is impossible to place plants near elms, birches, maples, chestnuts and lindens.
Another aspect to consider when planting is the distance between the rhododendrons and their neighbors. So, from buildings it is necessary to retreat at least one and a half meters, from large trees and shrubs - at least 2 meters. Between the bushes themselves, a distance of 1.5-2 meters should be maintained.
Step-by-Step Transplant Technology
How to transplant rhododendron to a new place
First of all, you need to dig a suitable landing pit for rhododendron: its depth should be about 30-50 cm, depending on the size of the root system, and width should be 50-80 cm. A drainage layer is poured on the bottom of the pit, then a seedling is tried on: that the root neck of the plant cannot be sprinkled with earth, so it should rise 3-5 cm above the general surface of the earth.
Before transplanting the rhododendron bush to another place, it is necessary to moisten the root system abundantly: if the root lump is sufficiently dry, then it should be placed in a container of water for an hour or two, until air bubbles stop rising from the roots.
The finished drained hole is shed with water to shrink the soil, then a bush is planted in it and filled with the prepared substrate. The plant is abundantly watered in the near-stem circle - if the soil shrinks, then the substrate is added to the required level.
Important! The final stage is a thorough mulching of the soil from pine needles, peat or foliage with a layer of up to 6 cm. A freshly planted plant is shaded for 7-14 days, and in the case of winds, a support is established.
The second transfer to a permanent place
Rhododendrons tolerate transplants well, in the first years of life, as in a more mature age. Usually, after growing a small bush at home, the plants are planted on a common ridge for growing and gaining strength, and for 3-4 years of life they are planted on a permanent place of growth.
Regardless of the number of transplants, the general requirements for them are the same, so any manipulations are performed according to the standard algorithm.
How to feed a plant
When rhododendron is transplanted, a small amount of mineral fertilizer is already added to the soil mixture. The next top dressing is done 3-4 weeks after planting, when the plant takes root.
In the spring, before flowering, plants are fertilized with organic mixtures - blood meal, half-rotten cow manure or horn meal. You can insist manure for 3-4 days in water, and then water the earth around the bushes with the slurry obtained, but first moisten the earth well with plain water.
Mineral fertilizers that do not contain chlorine — superphosphates, nitric, phosphoric, and sulfate substances such as potassium, calcium, ammonium, and magnesium — have a good effect on the growth and growth of shrubs.
Important! In the summer, from mid-June to September, feeding is not carried out.
Correct transplantation is the key to good growth, development and flowering of the bush
Difficulties and problems
With a competent approach, no difficulties should arise, especially if you take into account the time when you can transplant the rhododendron from one place to another, and the very location of the bushes.
Important! One of the recommendations that can help avoid problems is a careful attitude to the internal compass of plants: when transplanting, you need to take into account the orientation of the bush to the cardinal points and place it in a new place in exactly the same position - this will reduce stress and allow you to adapt faster.
A common difficulty for gardeners is also often to dig up a bush from a familiar place, so it’s better to follow some simple tips:
- thoroughly moisten the soil before digging the plant;
- carefully loosen the ground with a pitchfork or rake indented from the base of the bush to 80 cm;
- use a pitchfork to dig the soil around a circle 100 cm from the root neck and to a depth of 30-40 cm.
This range is taken in order not to damage the surface and wide-spreading roots of the shrub. Then the bush can be carefully removed from the ground and transported to a new landing site. If there are dried roots - they can be cut, but the main thing is not to deprive the root system of the usual earthy coma.
When can I transfer rhododendron to another place? If it has grown greatly or needs more favorable conditions, or you can just as you wish. Different types of rhododendrons are the same in one - they are not afraid of transplantation, and if you follow the simple technology, the plants will remain grateful and will delight with lush flowering for a long time to come.
