Gardening Q & A: How to Prune Rhododendrons

Q: How should I prune my rhododendron?

A: Buy a plant that will ultimately reach the desired size; don't make the common mistake of pruning a plant too much in order to radically reduce its shape.

To prune, first remove the dead and damaged wood, working from the inside out and from the bottom up. Then prune for shape; get rid of brittle branches that will provide entrances for diseases and pests.

It's also best to prune rhododendrons when they are in bloom. A rhododendron's cut flowers will last a week or more in a container of water.

--Steve Lorton, Sunset Magazine

Guests
Steve Lorton
Pacific Northwest Bureau Chief, Sunset Magazine
c/o Sunset Publishing Corp.
80 Willow Rd.
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3591
Phone: 650-321-3600
Toll Free Phone: 800-227-7346
Fax: 650-327-7537
URL: www.sunset.com
Also in this Episode

Grow It! : Episode GRW-209
•	Artful Garden
•	How to Repot Orchids
•	Gardening Q & A: How to Prune Rhododendrons
•	Q&A: Planting
•	Q&A: Starting Bulbs
•	Making Potpourri