What does a rhododendron look like? Flower "Rhododendron": views from the photo, planting and care

Our grandmothers, growing strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, were not particularly worried about mulching. But today this agricultural practice has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reduce crop losses. Some might say it's troublesome. But practice shows that labor costs in this case pay off handsomely. In this article, we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.

Succulents are very versatile. Despite the fact that “kids” have always been considered more fashionable, the assortment of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it is worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of pricklyness, influence on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article, we will talk about the five most fashionable succulents that surprisingly transform modern interiors.

Mint was used by the Egyptians as far back as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils with high volatility. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article, we will consider the most interesting varieties of mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in open ground.

People began to grow crocuses 500 years before the advent of our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the heralds of spring next year. Crocuses - one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, the timing of flowering may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article focuses on the earliest varieties of crocuses that bloom in late March and early April.

Shchi from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, fragrant and easy to prepare. In this recipe, you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. Early cabbage cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as the rest of the vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup is tastier than freshly cooked.

Looking at the variety of varieties of tomatoes, it is difficult not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. He sometimes confuses even experienced gardeners! However, it is not so difficult to understand the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself”. The main thing is to understand the peculiarities of culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest tomato groups to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been appreciated by those gardeners who do not have much time and energy to care for the beds.

Once very popular under the name of room nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleuses today are one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. They are not in vain considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are looking primarily for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant supervision. But if you take care of them, bushes of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.

Salmon backbone baked in Provence herbs is a “supplier” of delicious pieces of fish pulp for a light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. Mushrooms are lightly fried in olive oil, and then poured with apple cider vinegar. Such mushrooms are tastier than ordinary pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Ramson and fresh dill coexist perfectly in one salad, emphasizing the flavor of each other. Garlic sharpness of wild garlic will saturate both salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.

Conifer tree or a shrub on the site is always great, and a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles of various shades decorate the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils, secreted by plants, not only flavor, but also make the air cleaner. Generally, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require competent care and attention.

Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics under the shade of flowering trees have long become an essential attribute of the meeting of spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. The financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese pass under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.

It is very interesting for me to analyze how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and traded lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century BC. e. about 6 varieties of quince were known and even then the methods of its reproduction and cultivation were described.

Make your family happy and make themed Easter egg-shaped cottage cheese cookies! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - they will sift the flour, combine everything necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as the pieces of dough turn into real ones. Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read in our step by step recipe!

There are not so many decorative and deciduous favorites among tuberous crops. And the caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of the interiors. Not everyone can decide to start a Caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all - to care. But still, the rumors about the unusual capriciousness of the Caladium never justify. Attention and care allow you to avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And a plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.

We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply elementary dish for you today. This gravy is one hundred percent universal, as it will suit every side dish: vegetables, pasta, and anything. Gravy with chicken and mushrooms will save you in moments when there is no time or you don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Grab your favorite side dish (you can make this ahead of time to keep it hot), add gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.

Among the many different varieties of these top-selling vegetables, here are three that excel in flavor and relatively undemanding growing conditions. Characteristics of eggplant varieties "Diamond", "Black Handsome" and "Valentina". All eggplants have a medium density pulp. In "Almaz" it is greenish, and in the other two it is yellowish-white. They are united good germination and excellent yield, but at different times. Everyone's skin color and shape is different.

Rhododendrons are beautiful ornamental plants of the heather family. They are difficult to grow in our climate. Their homeland is the subtropics, so they love warmth and do not winter well in a harsh climate.

Rhododendrons are sissies. In order for them to be able to grow in the climate of the middle lane, one has to follow the rules of agricultural technology and the subtleties of care. But rhododendrons are so enchanting that more and more gardeners are paying attention to them. Before you purchase planting material for a plant, learn about the nuances of growing.

Planting a rhododendron

Despite the fact that rhododendrons are a novelty for modern flower growers, they were cultivated in Russia already at the end of the 18th century, so let's turn to the domestic experience of growing "Alpine roses" - this is how garden rhododendron is called in Europe.

Plants prefer spring planting. They are planted in a dormant state or at a time when the kidneys have just begun to awaken. spring planting allows the seedling to get stronger and better endure the coming winter.

pledge successful cultivation is right choice varieties. In decorative floriculture, several types are used. Suitable for beginners. Ledebour, short-fruited, largest and Japanese. On alpine slide you can plant Canadian, dense and Kamchatka. These species have increased winter hardiness, so there is a chance that they will survive a harsh winter.

Japanese rhododendron is beautiful from spring to late autumn. It has large orange flowers. This is the largest and beautiful bush, which can grow in middle lane. It reaches a height of 200 cm.

It is better to purchase planting material from experienced gardeners or in nurseries. Fairs and bazaars do not guarantee the quality of seedlings. In addition, sellers at fairs often do not know what they are selling. If you unknowingly acquire a capricious appearance, then it will take root and start to grow, but it will freeze in the first winter.

Landing place

Landing begins with the choice of a place. All types of rhododendrons grow well in places protected from the wind and the hot midday sun. If you plant flowers on the north or northeast side of a building or fence, then this planting can be considered correct.

When planting a rhododendron in the ground near the house, you need to take into account that water will flow from the roof in the spring, and the rhododendron will not like it. You can not plant seedlings next to trees that have a surface root system, and this is most of the trees of the middle lane, except for pine and oak. The remaining trees will compete with the rhododendron for water and food, and as a result, the alpine rose will dry out.

You can plant rhododendron under fruit trees, but you need to be prepared that fruit trees will reduce the size of the crop. In order for the bush to show itself in all its glory, it is better to plant it not under the crown fruit tree, and then - so there will be enough sunlight for everyone and the bush will bloom magnificently.

Owners of open ventilated areas should do the following:

1. In autumn, hammer stakes from the south and west sides of the bush.
2. In early February, attach shading material to the stakes.

The height of the shelter should be one and a half times higher than the height of the bush. Shelter is necessary to protect the plant from early spring burning.

Rhododendron lays flower buds at the end of summer, and in mid-February in the middle lane the sun begins to bake and large flower buds evaporate moisture. By the time the roots begin suction work (in April), the buds will have time to dry out and there will be no flowering.

Canadian rhododendron is resistant to early spring scorching, but the most popular types: Japanese, large-leaved, evergreen, are scorched almost annually. Shelter in February-March will save the flower buds from death and the plant will bloom magnificently this season.

The alpine rose has compact fibrous roots located at a shallow depth, so plants can be transplanted painlessly at any age. Rhododendron loves moisture, but at groundwater levels above one meter, drainage will be required.

After choosing a place, the most important point in planting a rhododendron is to prepare a substrate with the right acidity and mechanical properties. The pH of the substrate should be in the range of 4.5-5.5. In addition, the soil mixture should be loose, moisture-absorbing, breathable.

These requirements will ideally be met by a substrate prepared from acidic high-moor peat, loam and bedding taken from a pine forest. All components are mixed in equal proportions. Instead of loam, you can use clay, taking it half as much as the rest of the ingredients.

You can not plant rhododendron in high-moor peat or in a mixture of peat and needles. Be sure to add clay or loam, which will give the substrate the desired moisture capacity. In pure peat, plants will suffer from a lack of moisture, and rhododendrons do not like this. In addition, the soil gives the substrate looseness and breathability.

Planting and caring for rhododendron in the early days

The components of the prepared substrate are mixed and poured into the pit. A hole is dug in the center of the hole, into which the seedling is planted.

If the seedling was sold with a clod of earth (and in the case of rhododendrons, this most often happens), then before planting it lower part immersed in water and removed when air bubbles cease to appear on the surface.

The seedling must be planted at the same depth as it was in the container. You can not deepen the root neck - this is important. The planted seedling is watered abundantly and the soil is mulched with pine bedding with a layer of 5 cm.

When planting rhododendrons, manure, humus, black soil, compost leaves should not be brought into the pit.

Growing features

Alpine rose is one of the plants that needs to be planted correctly, and then for many years you can limit yourself to minimal care. In the first year after planting, it is important that the plant does not experience a shortage of water. The planting hole should be constantly wet, but it is not necessary to loosen it, as it is possible to disturb the young growing roots, which will be located in the surface layer of the substrate.

Weeds that appear in the planting hole are pulled out with the roots, without digging. For irrigation, it is better to use soft water (not well water).

Rhododendrons love top dressing. Keeping in mind the fragile superficial roots, it is better to use not granules and powders for feeding, but solutions. The usual Kemira Universal is well suited. The granules are dissolved in water according to the instructions and the plants are watered once every two weeks.

In early July, the plants are fed for the last time. To do this, use potassium sulfate - a teaspoon per 10 liters of water for young plants and two teaspoons per 10 liters for adults. In July-August, feeding is not carried out.

How not to fertilize an alpine rose:

• ash - it alkalizes the substrate;
• manure and manure compost - fungal diseases will appear.

Growing rhododendrons is often accompanied by such a phenomenon as chlorosis. The leaves turn yellow, while the veins remain green. Symptoms indicate a change in the pH of the substrate to the alkaline side.

Growing conditions for rhododendron are such that the plant can only survive in acidic soil. To eliminate chlorosis, acidifiers are used - special preparations that can be bought at garden stores. Industrial acidifiers contain a lot of nitrogen, so they can only be used in the spring.

For the prevention of alkalization, it is necessary to mulch bushes with rotted needles annually. No special measures against chlorosis will be required if you use special fertilizers for rhododendrons to feed the plants and mulch the planting hole with pine or spruce needles two or three times a season.

Special studies helped to find out the correct thickness of the mulch layer in winter, depending on the size of the bush:

In the spring, the mulching material is slightly raked away from the bush, freeing the root collar.

Majority ornamental shrubs have a sloppy crown shape and need pruning. This does not apply to rhododendron. Alpine rose boasts a crown of absolutely correct - round or oval - shape. It is not necessary to cut it, it is enough to do only sanitary pruning.

It is not necessary to cut the branches even after transplantation, as the plants tolerate it well, and the work of the roots in a new place does not stop.

Rhododendrons bloom profusely every year. So that flowering does not become less plentiful, it is necessary to prevent the formation of seeds. To do this, faded inflorescences are removed from the bush. In place of each broken inflorescence, 2 new flower buds are formed.

Leaves will tell you about the lack of nutrients - they become light green, stop shining. The growth of shoots decreases, flowering becomes more restrained.

Growing rhododendron from seeds

Plants grown by oneself from seeds should not be pruned before the first flowering. Experiments have shown that pruning seedlings delays flowering by 3 years.

Rhododendrons are propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush, layering and grafting. For breeding purposes, use seed propagation. Seeds are sown in containers with heather soil and covered with sand on top. The containers are covered with glass and placed in a bright and warm place.

Rose and rhododendron are essentially namesakes. Their names come from the same root - rose. Only the rose itself - from Latin (Rosa), and rhododendron - from Greek (Rhodon) is also a rose. The name rhododendron is fully translated as "rose tree", which reflects not so much the size of the shrub as its unusually violent flowering.

Although the rose is considered the queen of the front garden, rhododendron fans have good reasons to reconsider this norm in favor of their pet. Personally, I have long equated these two flowers in rights, and reconciled them in claims to the flower throne. Let the rose remain the queen, and let the rhododendron be the title of king.

After all, the rose and the rhododendron could sign an agreement on the division of spheres of influence, and rule jointly to their mutual benefit. After all, the timing of their flowering practically do not intersect. Rhododendron - a flower mainly in spring, a rose - a child full summer and autumn. In general, if you plant rhododendrons and roses together, then their impact on the viewer will only increase.

Five arguments in favor of rhododendron.

One could say about rhododendron in official language that this plant is promising, and any initial investment in it will be justified. The shrub as a whole is resistant to adversity and easy to care for, but it is important not to make a mistake in choosing a variety. If we compare it with the same rose, then there are many reasons to force a convinced rose grower to go over to the side of the enemy.

• Rhododendrons (or, at least, those species and varieties that will be discussed below) do not require shelter for the winter, unless you are tempted by some heat-loving variety.
• Rhododendrons grow into pretty, dense bushes, require little to no pruning, and are disease and pest resistant. Caring for a growing rhododendron is completely easy.
• Rhododendrons are durable. Thirty years is the minimum you can count on. And some varieties and species are able to survive even such a familiar tree species as birch.
• Rhododendrons never lose their decorative effect and are ready to work from the first days of spring.
• The shape of the crown, as well as the external data of the leaves of rhododendrons, is much more diverse than that of a rose. Therefore, in garden design rhododendrons have more options. They are equally organic in both landscape and regular gardens.

About the rose tree in your own words.

From the point of view of the gardener, rhododendrons are divided into deciduous, semi-evergreen and evergreen. With deciduous - everything is clear, but how can evergreen rhododendrons survive with us, - you ask, - after all, such shrubs are more typical of the tropics and subtropics?

The answer lies in the field of plant physiology. Trees and shrubs in the temperate zone low temperatures mainly react by shedding leaves. This helps them to reduce the evaporation of moisture (transpiration), and thus survive the winter.

Evergreen rhododendrons, like their other brethren in the heather family (lingonberry, wild rosemary, etc.), act differently. They react to cold not by dropping leaves, but rather in an original way - when the temperature approaches zero, their leaves curl into tubes. This allows the plant to significantly reduce transpiration.

As for semi-evergreen rhododendrons, they react to cold in two ways - some of the leaves are shed, and some, usually at the top, roll up into tubes. By the way, twisted leaves sometimes become so small that the bush may seem naked. But as soon as the thaw comes, they unfold, showing a pleasant surprise in the middle of winter.

In the city, rhododendrons grow in our front garden, right under the windows. Often, in order to understand what the weather is like outside, I glance at the evergreen Katevbinsky rhododendron. If the leaves are rolled into tubes, you need to dress warmer. If they are fully deployed, then the temperature is plus four or higher, and you can force yourself in a leather jacket.

For you to know.

Rhododendron genus ( Rhododendron) belongs to the heather family and includes about 1300 species of shrubs and small trees. Rhododendrons are distributed throughout the world, but largest number their species grows in the subtropics and tropics of Asia. China and Japan are especially rich in rhododendrons. For example, in all of North America there are about thirty species, and in relatively small Japan - sixty. There is nothing to say about China - there are more than two hundred of them.

In Russia, there are about 20 species of rhododendrons. But in the flat part of the country they are not at all. They are concentrated mainly along the mountain belt of the south: from the Caucasus in the west to Sikhote-Alin in the east.

Interestingly, according to modern botanical views, the genus rosemary ( Ledum) is combined with the genus rhododendron. And now the wild rosemary has received a new name - the marsh rhododendron. So the middle zone of Russia, thus, also acquired its own wild rhododendron.

Typical signs of rhododendrons are simple elliptical, lanceolate, leaves, concentrated in bunches at the ends of the shoots. The flowers of rhododendrons are collected in multi-flowered inflorescences of various colors, collected in dense multi-flowered inflorescences. In their palette there are pink, purple, red, yellow and white colors and, of course, their various shades.

It is believed that the number of varietal rhododendrons has long exceeded the figure of 20,000, and annually arrives, with increasing intensity. At the same time, the vast majority of varieties are based on heat-loving species, and are not frost-resistant enough.

At the same time, unlike roses, species rhododendrons are in no way inferior in attractiveness to varieties. And for central Russia they have greater value than varieties.

You won't get lost with them.

It has been established that, to one degree or another, the central zone of Russia is suitable for about 40 species of rhododendrons. As for varieties, this question remains open, as it requires careful and comprehensive study. Variety study, I note, should be specific, that is, cultivars should be tested not only in different regions, but on different soils, at different humidity and illumination. So far, only species rhododendrons have been more or less studied, which, by the way, are not inferior to varietal plants for the most part in their decorative effect.

Here are just a few of your possible settlers. Seventeen of the most winter-hardy and unpretentious species of rhododendrons recommended for amateur gardening in the Non-Black Earth Region.

( R. vaseyi) - deciduous shrub, in culture usually no more than a meter tall. Native to North Carolina USA. Fully winter-hardy, although flower buds are susceptible to spring frosts. Because of this, it works better where the soil thaws in spring and warms up later. The flowers are funnel-shaped, light pink with brownish-red dots. Blooms before the leaves open. The soil should be moist but permeable.

Daurian rhododendron (R. dahuricum) - deciduous, but sometimes part of the leaves at the top remains to winter on the plant. The usual height of the bush is about 70-90cm. Leaves ovate-elliptic 5x2cm. The flowers are lilac-pink, broadly funnel-shaped. Blooms in early spring in a leafless state around the crescent.

It grows well on ordinary garden soil, if you add high-moor peat to it. In nature, this species is widely distributed in the south of Eastern Siberia and the Far East. It is he who is most often called "ledum".

Rhododendron yellow (R. luteum) - deciduous, sprawling shrub 70-90cm high. Grows in the Caucasus and the Carpathians. One of the most reliable and unpretentious rhododendrons. It grows well in the light, on ordinary slightly acidic and neutral soils with the addition of peat or heather. The flowers are golden yellow, with a pleasant aroma. Blooms in spring at the same time as the leaves open.

golden rhododendron ( R. aureum) - evergreen, 0.3-0.5 m high, up to 60-100 cm wide. Distributed in the south of Siberia from Altai to Kamchatka. It grows in the mountains, in the upper part of the forest belt and above. The leaves are elliptical, leathery, 3-7 cm long. Blooms in May-June. The flowers are light yellow or golden. Completely winter hardy. Photophilous, prefers acidic, moist peaty soils. Is medicinal plant. Leaves are used for diseases gastrointestinal tract, rheumatism, insomnia, tonsillitis, women's diseases, etc.

Caucasian rhododendron ( R. caucasicum) - evergreen, 60-90 cm high, leaves are leathery, glossy, very attractive. The flowers are funnel-shaped, creamy white with green dots in the throat. In nature, it grows at altitudes from 1600 to 3000 m above sea level, where the climate is very severe, therefore, in central Russia it is completely winter-hardy.

Grows slowly. Seedlings bloom at the age of 6-8 years. Photophilous. Grows well in moist and acidic soils.

Rhododendron Kamchatka (R. camtchaticum) - deciduous shrub up to 30cm high. The leaves are obovate, sometimes almost round, 2-5 cm long. Flowers with a diameter of 2.5-5 cm, wide-open, reddish-lilac or pinkish, collected in inflorescences of 1-3 pcs. Blooms in June-July for more than 20 days.

It occurs naturally in the Far East along the sea coasts from Japan in the south to Chukotka and Alaska in the north. Winter-hardy, moisture-loving, photophilous. Prefers moist but well-drained soils with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction.

Canadian rhododendron (R. canadense) - deciduous 60-80 cm high. Flowers 3-4 cm in diameter, purple-violet, sometimes white, with narrow, intricately curled petals. Blooms in April-May in a leafless state for 20-25 days.

Homeland - North-East of North America, where it grows in sphagnum swamps and in damp forests. Fully winter-hardy, photophilous. Prefers wet acidic soils with the addition of peat. It is one of the ten most unpretentious species recommended for central Russia.

Rhododendron Katevbinsky (R. catawbiense) - an evergreen shrub about 1 (sometimes up to 2) m high. Homeland - North America. The leaves are elliptical, 6-12 cm long, leathery, shiny. The flowers are reddish-lilac or purple with a diameter of about 5 cm, collected in dense multi-flowered inflorescences of 15-20 pieces. Blooms in May-June for about a month.

Due to its unpretentiousness, it is the most popular of the evergreen rhododendrons. Winter-hardy, although flower buds are often damaged. Takes out open sun, but grows best in scattered or lateral penumbra. Prefers acidic, moist peaty soils. It has many varieties, including hybrids, from crossing with other evergreen rhododendron species.

Rhododendron short-fruited (R. brachycarpum) - an evergreen shrub 150-200 cm high with a dense spherical crown. The leaves are large, 8-20 cm long, oblong-elliptical, leathery. The flowers are creamy white with a pinkish tan, broadly funnel-shaped, 4-5 cm in diameter, collected in dense racemose inflorescences of 12-20 pieces. Blossoms in June-July 15-20 days.

Homeland - Korea, Japan, found on the Kuril Islands. It is one of the ten most winter-hardy evergreen rhododendrons. It is light-requiring, but grows well on the north side of the buildings and in net partial shade. Due to the dense decorative crown, it is attractive from early spring to the very frost. It is suitable even for public landscaping. It is especially desirable for landscaping courtyards, where it can become the first truly evergreen shrub. With his presence, he enlivens flower and shrub compositions, brings an unusual subtropical flavor to the Russian eye.

Prefers light, well-drained, humus-rich, acidic sandy loam soils.

Rhododendron Kochi (R. kotschyi) - evergreen, spreading shrub 20-40 cm high. The leaves are elliptical, small, shiny, 1-2 cm long, up to 1 cm wide. The flowers are dark pink, rarely white, funnel-shaped, up to 2 cm in diameter, in inflorescences of 2-7 pieces. Blooms in May for more than two weeks.

Homeland - the Balkan Peninsula, the Carpathians, where it grows at altitudes from 1500 to 2500 m above sea level. It is winter-hardy, photophilous, prefers moist, but drained slightly acidic peaty soil.

The largest rhododendron (R. maximum) - a large evergreen shrub, in nature it reaches a height of 10 meters, but in culture it usually does not exceed 2 meters. The leaves are oblong-elliptical, or obovate, leathery, 10-30 cm long. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, pink or white, funnel-shaped with orange specks in the throat, collected in dense inflorescences of 15-25 pieces. Blossoms in June-July up to 20 days.

Homeland - North America. Completely winter-hardy in central Russia. Recommended not only for private gardens, but also for public landscaping. Light-requiring, prefers humus-rich, loose slightly acidic soil.

Rhododendron Ledebourg ( R. ledebourii) - semi-evergreen densely branched shrub 60-90 cm high. Homeland - the south of Western Siberia - the Sayans, Altai, Mongolia. The leaves are elliptical, leathery, 1-3 cm long. Part of the leaves hibernates on the bush and falls with the growth of young leaves in May. The flowers are pinkish-violet with a diameter of 3-4 cm. Blooms very profusely in May 15-20 days.

Fully winter-hardy in the middle lane. Sun-loving. It grows well on slightly acidic and acidic sandy loamy soils with an admixture of peat.

Rhododendron spiky ( R. mucronulatum) - deciduous or semi-deciduous shrub 90-160 cm high. The leaves are lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, up to 2 cm wide, leathery, covered with brown glandular hairs below, often narrowed into a short spine at the apex. The flowers are lilac-pink, rarely white, wide funnel-shaped, about 3 cm in diameter, pleasantly smelling. It blooms profusely in April-May before the deployment of young leaves, about two weeks.

Homeland - Russian Primorye, Japan, Korea, Northeast China.

It is winter-hardy in central Russia, but flower buds can be damaged. Photophilous. Soils like slightly acidic, humus-rich, moist but well-drained.

Sikhotinsky rhododendron ( R. sichotense) - semi-evergreen branched shrub 50-90cm tall. Homeland - the Sikhote-Alin ridge with the adjacent sea coast. The leaves are elliptical up to 3.5 cm long and 2 cm wide, brownish-green above, lighter below with glandular hairs. The flowers are purple-pink, funnel-shaped, up to 4.5 cm in diameter. Blooms in May for 15 days. It is winter-hardy, but flower buds can be damaged. Photophilous. Prefers slightly acidic, moist soils with a high content of organic matter.

Rhododendron Smirnova (R. smirnowii) - evergreen broad-spreading shrub up to 100-120cm high. The leaves are elliptical, leathery, 7-15 cm long, leathery above, shiny, white-felt below.

Flowers of a pleasant purple-pink hue, bell-shaped with a diameter of up to 6 cm, are collected in dense inflorescences of 10-12 pieces. It blooms profusely from the end of May, for about three weeks.

Quite winter hardy. Photophilous. Prefers moist but well-drained acidic peaty soils.

Rhododendron Schlippenbach (R. schlippenbachii) - deciduous shrub 120-150 cm high. The leaves are obovate, quite wide for rhododendrons, up to 10 cm long, with a width of up to 7 cm. The flowers are bell-shaped, wide open, light pink with purple speckles, 5-8 cm in diameter, in inflorescences of 3-6 pieces. It blooms for about a month, very abundantly, simultaneously with the development of young leaves.

Homeland - Russian Far East, Northeast China, Korea, Japan. It is winter-hardy, but flower buds sometimes freeze slightly. Photophilous, but grows well in light partial shade. Prefers moist, slightly acidic, peat-containing soils.

Japanese rhododendron (R. japoniicum) - deciduous 70-90 cm high. Originally from the Japanese Islands, where it grows on the sunny slopes of the mountains, at altitudes up to 2000 above sea level. The leaves are lanceolate, up to 9-10 cm long and up to 3-4 cm wide. The flowers are funnel-bell-shaped, 6-8 cm in diameter, most often orange-red, sometimes yellow, salmon, brick-red, with a pleasant strong aroma. It blooms in May, simultaneously with the blooming of young leaves, for 25 days.

Perhaps this is the same rhododendron that a beginner should invite to his front garden first. After all, in our middle lane no one has been disappointed in it yet. It blooms unusually brightly and abundantly, with unusually large red-orange flowers. Flowering is so bright that it arouses curiosity even in the most distant people from gardening.

At the same time, it is winter-hardy, unpretentious, and grows well on ordinary moist garden soils, to which high-moor peat is added.

The most important.

Although the rose has thousands of varieties, in terms of preferences, it is one and the same species, with a completely understandable and fairly standard character. Rhododendrons have much more diverse requirements for growing conditions. It is impossible for them to choose universal conditions in which any species and variety would grow equally well. But there is, after all, something that makes most rhododendrons related, including almost all suitable for cultivation in central Russia.

Most rhododendrons do not like or even tolerate dryness. And this applies equally to the soil and the atmosphere. The ideal weather for them is a cloudy but warm day with intermittent rains, when the soil is saturated with moisture, the leaves of plants are covered with a wet film, and water drops, without evaporating, hang on the shoots for a long time.

In hot dry years, which are not uncommon for us, rhododendrons need frequent watering. If you leave everything to chance, then for some of the rhododendrons, extreme drought can end in failure.

The soil of rhododendrons is also preferred not quite the same on which it is customary to grow potatoes and cereals. In our usual understanding, this is not soil at all, but a moisture-intensive, porous substrate made of sand, clay, needle residues, peat, rotten stumps and bark.

In order to fully satisfy the nutritional needs of rhododendrons, you should always have acidic high-moor peat, sand, heather, and coniferous litter on hand. For those who, in addition to rhododendrons, want to tame such crops as blueberries, heather, wild rosemary, cranberries, lingonberries .. it is also useful to learn how to prepare heather compost, which is advisable to systematically apply under these plants.

Into a notebook.

heather land — upper layer forest litter 10-20 cm thick, including part of the bedrock, from an old pine or spruce forest, in the lower layer of which such species as lingonberries, heather, wild rosemary, blueberries, cranberries, blueberries, etc. grow. It is useful to apply heather land under all heather rhododendrons little by little, but constantly, simulating the process of fertilizing heather in nature with coniferous litter. Heather land is acidic, rich in organic matter and populated with mycorrhiza of useful fungi, usually protozoa.

coniferous litter- the upper, organic component of heather land, including both completely decomposed needles and recently fallen needles. Coniferous litter loosens and acidifies the soil.

heather compost- prepared from heather, coniferous litter, pine, spruce or larch bark, the dust of rotten stumps, sphagnum, high peat, sand, small coniferous twigs, leaves forest trees and so on. These components are laid in layers somewhere in a shady, damp lowland, in a wide collar 50-70 cm high. The top of the shoulder, to retain precipitation, is formed trough-shaped. Compost is stored for several years until the branches and bark are completely decomposed, that is, until it turns into a homogeneous loose mass.

Choice of location. Illumination is chosen individually for each specific species and variety. In general, deciduous rhododendrons are more sun-loving, while evergreens prefer diffuse or intermittent partial shade. So that the soil does not dry out much, slopes should not be allocated for rhododendrons. The subsoil, for the same reasons, is better loamy than sandy. It should also be remembered that most rhododendrons do not like withering winds, so the landing site must be protected.

Soil preparation. There is no soil that all rhododendrons, without exception, would agree to. But still, most of them love the presence of peat in the soil. You can't go wrong if you pile on existing soil a half-meter layer of high-moor peat and shovel it all well 50-60cm deep. This will already ensure the well-being of rhododendrons by 80%.

To please one hundred percent, it is necessary to populate the soil with mycorrhiza of microscopic fungi, with which heathers are in mutually beneficial symbiosis. Fungal organisms help heathers extract and process the nutrients they need. nutrients from acidic substrates unsuitable for other plants. In order to bring the necessary mycorrhiza, it is necessary to add “sourdough” to the soil - coniferous or heather soil - the upper (10-15 cm layer) part of the forest floor, taken in an old pine forest, in the lower tier of which there are species such as heather, wild rosemary, lingonberry.

The soil substrate can also be created separately by mixing high-moor peat, soddy soil, sand and heather soil in a ratio of 4:1:1:2 or 4:1:1:1.

Boarding and transfer. Rhododendrons usually tolerate transplanting well, as long as the soil is properly prepared and constantly moistened. In the rainy period, you can risk replanting a bush with a clod of earth, even in the middle of summer. Of course, a seedling in a container does not count at all. With bare roots and without a clod, rhododendrons tolerate transplantation better in autumn, when the period favorable for this is much longer than spring.

Care. All heathers (this group, except for rhododendron, can include such horticultural crops as blueberries, cranberries, lingonberries, podbel, heather, wild rosemary, etc.) have their own specific preferences, on the basis of which they should be grown separately from other plants. In addition to the fungal mycorrhiza they need, they have superficial roots, so they do not tolerate digging. It is advisable to fertilize rhododendrons by the method of mulching, regularly adding high-moor peat, heather, pine or spruce needles, chopped bark and sawdust coniferous species. To do this, it makes sense to constantly import coniferous soil, coniferous litter from the forest, prepare heather compost according to the above recipe. It is advisable to alternately pour these components 3-4 times per season in small doses under the rhododendrons. Then the substrate that feeds the plants will constantly grow, and the rhododendrons will have everything they need to flourish. In essence, the same thing, only much more slowly, occurs in nature as a result of natural processes.

It's only begining.

Anyone who has seen a flowering rhododendron will no longer be able to get rid of the desire to have this shrub in their front garden. In my opinion, none of ornamental plants, unable to give so much positive emotions. About 15 different rhododendrons bloom regularly in our garden. In total, we tested a little more than twenty varieties and types of shrubs. It seems like a lot, but we plan to expand our collection at least three times in the future.

Personally, I am especially fond of evergreen rhododendrons with large thick-skinned elliptical leaves, such as those of the Katevbinsky, Caucasian, short-fruited, largest, etc. rhododendrons. Wintering leaves of this size (and they often reach a length of 15-20 cm) are not characteristic of central Russia, therefore their very appearance gives the front garden a subtropical flavor.

No less charm is present in our Siberian rhododendrons - wild rosemaries blooming profusely in early spring pink and light purple flowers. Rhododendrons are also good with small evergreen leaves like lingonberries, they can be cut, giving the crown a cushion shape.

In general, rhododendrons are a whole world.

Rhododendron is a highly ornamental shrub that belongs to the Heather family. Exists a large number of species and cultivars of this plant. In nature, rhododendron can be found in the form of a shrub and a tree. Rhododendron: planting and care requires special attention from the gardener.

The height of a rhododendron depends on its type and variety. So cultures with high decorativeness are distinguished by the shape of the leaf. I single out 26 species, which are divided into three groups.

Table 1 - Groups and types of rhododendrons

Groups	Description of groups	Variety name
evergreens	These are shrubs that do not shed their leaves even in winter period. The foliage is dark green in color. Flowers are large and have a variety of colors. Grow mainly on well-drained, peat-enriched soil.	Daurian rhododendron is an evergreen shrub that reaches a height of 2-4 m. The leaves are glossy, small size. Flowers are large, diameter does not exceed 4 cm, mostly purple. Flowering continues for a month. Perfectly propagated by cuttings.
		Rhododendron Adams is a winter-hardy, evergreen shrub with a spreading crown. The leaves are green, ovoid. The flowers are small, in one inflorescence no more than 15 pcs.
		Caucasian rhododendron is a low, evergreen shrub. The leaves are dark green and oblong in shape.
Deciduous	It is a shrub that sheds its leaves before the onset of winter. During the flowering period, the bush is completely decorated with flowers.	Canadian rhododendron is a shrub with dense branches, up to 1 m in diameter. It blooms in the first half of May, flowers up to 3 cm in diameter are bright lilac, sometimes white. In one year it grows by 15 cm.
		Rhododendron Kamchatka is a dwarf shrub with a height of no more than 0.3 m. It begins to bloom in the first half of June, the flowers are large in shape, have a crimson color. It can withstand temperatures down to -27 degrees. Prefers moist, well-lit areas.
		Rhododendron yellow is a deciduous bush, reaches a height of 2 m. It has small bright yellow flowers. The leaves are elongated, green in color. Yellow azalea blooms in early May.
hybrid	These are varieties of rhododendrons bred by breeders when crossing different species.	"Azurvolke" is a hybrid, evergreen rhododendron. In height reaching up to 1 m. Crown diameter 1.5 m. Flowers are blue, sometimes purple. The leaves are oblong up to 3 cm long and 1 cm wide, have a dark green color.
		"Berry Rose" is a hybrid, deciduous shrub, reaching a height of up to 1.5-2 m. Green leaves up to 5 cm long, up to 3 cm wide. It blooms in the second half of May and blooms until the third decade of July. Flowers - pink, up to 8 cm in diameter.
		"Blue Tit" is a hybrid, evergreen shrub, up to 1 m high. It has a rounded crown, up to 1.5 m in diameter. The leaves are rounded, bluish-green in color. Blooms in the first half of May. The flowers are lavender-blue, 3.5 cm in diameter. The variety is resistant to low temperatures.

The nuances of growing a plant

The place for planting rhododendron should be on a hill so that water does not stagnate at the roots. Azalea does not tolerate drafts and burning sunlight. On the north side, the plant must be protected from cold gusts of wind, and in spring period from the scorching sun. That's why good place for landing is the northeast or north side of the fence building.

Coniferous plants will the best neighbors for rhododendron. And plants with surface-type roots will be unsuccessful: willow, maple, linden.

Shrubs will not grow in alkaline or normal soil. It should be acidic with a large layer of humus, without lime, and pass oxygen well.

Landing in open ground

Rhododendrons: planting and care in the open field require special attention from the gardener. So before planting, it is necessary to prepare material for cultivation. The best soil for a flower is a mixture of peat and clay in equal proportions.

How to plant a rhododendron:

• a hole is dug, up to 0.4 m deep and up to 0.6 m wide;
• a drainage layer of sand and pebbles 0.15 m high is laid on the bottom;
• then they are covered with a mixture of peat (most) and loam;
• the soil is rammed and a hole is made for an earthen coma of a rhododendron seedling;
• the roots of the seedling are lowered into the pit and covered with soil. The root neck should be level with the ground;
• after planting, the bush is abundantly watered with cold water;
• from above they mulch with straw, moss, rotted needles.

To make the plant better accepted, a few minutes before planting, the seedling is soaked in a bucket of water. And keep it in it until air bubbles disappear from the surface of the water.

How to care for rhododendron

The rhododendron flower requires regular watering, weed removal, seasonal fertilization, and pest control.

The plant has a shallow root system. Therefore, while loosening the soil around the bush, a person must be very careful. Removal of weeds must be carried out only manually, and digging the ground under the plant is prohibited.

The shrub does not like strong waterlogging, but requires daily spraying and watering.

Before landing at the chosen place, the gardener needs to make sure that ground water do not come close to the soil surface. Otherwise, the roots of the plant will become oversaturated with moisture and simply rot.

Water for irrigation should be slightly acidified, for this, 3 parts of sphagnum peat are added to a bucket with rain, spring, settled water (at least half a day).

The flower requires constant fertilization:

• in the spring, rhododendron is watered with nitrogen-containing fertilizers (50 g of ammonium is added per 1 cubic meter of land);
• in July number nitrogen fertilization reduce to 20 g;
• after 2 years, the topsoil is renewed. To do this, mix peat with humus and sprinkle the ground around the rhododendron.

Only well-watered plants can be fertilized.

Flower propagation methods

In garden conditions, reproduction of rhododendron occurs in several ways:

• planting seeds;
• cuttings;
• instillation of cuttings.

The most time-consuming process is the propagation of a plant by seeds. First from the collected planting material dry and healthy seeds are selected, then they are sown in containers with a mixture of peat and sand. From above, the boxes are covered with polyethylene or glass.

Propagation by cuttings also requires some effort. To do this, a stiffened shoot is cut off from the bush, then cut into branches 0.1 m long. Then they are planted in a peat mixture and covered in the same way as in the case of seeds. The cuttings take root within 3-4 months, then they are transplanted into a separate container, then they are taken out into a room with a temperature not lower than +10 degrees. IN open ground planted in the spring.

For propagation using layering, the lower branch of the bush is bent to the soil and buried to a depth of 0.12 m. This part of the bush is looked after in the same way as an adult plant is watered and sprayed.

Protection against diseases and pests

A beautiful and majestic shrub under its crown collects many insects. Dense shade and humidity are especially preferred different types snails, slugs. Therefore, the inspection of the bush should be carried out daily and you need to collect mollusks only with your hands.

To avoid the spread of ticks, bedbugs, scale insects, the plant is treated with Karbofos.

If the watering schedule is not followed and there is no drainage layer under the root, the plant can become infected with a fungal disease. Bordeaux liquid is used as a prophylactic.

Rhododendron in landscape design

To enjoy beautiful flowers rhododendron for a long time, you can plant a plant in groups with different periods flowering. The best place for planting there will be a site next to the fountain, artificial pond. Such reservoirs can increase the humidity around the bush, and the gardener does not have to constantly spray it.

Cowberries, blueberries or other lovers of acidic soil will become good neighbors for him.

Rhododendron is for gardeners who love beauty and want to constantly care for plants. Only those who have conditions on the site that fully meet the requirements of this beautiful flowering bush can not take care of the plant.