Pruning Rhododendron Bushes

RE: Pruning Rhododendron Bushes Post By beth (Guest Post) (06/05/2007) I have a hedge of rhodos and i want to prune them back about 2 feet. There is new growth *very little) inside the bush. If I prune back the tops 2 feet I think the plant will be very bare as the limbs won't be green and thin but thick bark. The plants are about 20 years old and haven't been properly pruned in about 8 years. If I prune to the thick bark on top will my plants survive? Last year I thinned the trees by cutting every third trunk low and new growth came. Now the other two thirds have grown about two feet above the porch obstructing views and looking ragged. Help please """" RE: Pruning Rhododendron Bushes Post By Carol in PA (Guest Post) (04/19/2006) Prune your rhodie after it blossoms, but before it starts to set buds for the following year. I've had the same problem and am now making it into a "tree." shape. This way I can see out the windows on the lower level of the house.. Also, dont forget that you can stick those prunings into the ground and make new bushes if you like. RE: Pruning Rhododendron Bushes Post By Syd (Guest Post) (04/18/2006) I have my theory and my husband had his theory! We had a Rhodendron by our back porch, hubby would only trim the old buds and we wound up with a big skeleton of a bush, in my opionion. No leaves on the inside and leaves on the outside. It was a bird haven inside. When we decided to totally do away with the bush, cut it to the ground and had a hard time keeping it from coming back with new growth. My theory is if the bush gets to the point I am not happy with it, I can forgo buds for the next year just to get the plant cut down to proper management with thick inside branches and leaves. My feeling is a plant needs to get new growth inside the bush ... sometimes pruning drastically gives you a beautiful rejuvinated bush. We had one on the front the corner of the house that was getting too big and wirey, and he cut it down and let it start fresh ... very pretty. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Use your gut instincts. RE: Pruning Rhododendron Bushes Post By Saugus Ed (Guest Post) (04/18/2006) It's quite easy to prune Rhodos. I had out of control rhodos and went looking for pruning help on the internet and found the following link to be quite helpful. http://www.thegardenhelper.com/Rhody.htm I waited until all blooms had fallen off one spring and then drastically cut the plant back. After just two years, the plant is the desired size and shape. Each year after all blooms have dropped, I prune it back to the size I want. RE: Pruning Rhododendron Bushes Post By Kim (Guest Post) (04/18/2006) As a general rule of thumb, prune flowering trees and shrubs immediately after they finish blooming. Many buds are ready for the following season this year. This way, you force the shrub to make new blooms and don't lose the beauty. If you prune after the shrub has set its buds then you have pruned away all your blooms and it will not flower. Hope this helps! RE: Pruning Rhododendron Bushes Post By (Guest Post) (04/18/2006) You can prune your rhododendron immediately after flowering and it will not harm the flowers for the following year. If you prune before it blooms in the spring, you will lose the flowers.