When beautiful evergreen shrubs appear in the garden, the main problem for the grower is to keep the new "inhabitant" he althy and blooming luxuriantly. That is why many people are concerned about the question of how to cover rhododendrons for the winter. To choose the right strategy for caring for this plant, you need to know its variety. The description of a specific variety of rhododendron will indicate the minimum temperature of its content.
Protection for hardy varieties
Most experienced gardeners consider this plant quite tender and heat-loving, but it is worth considering the achievements of modern breeding. Many new varieties do not need to decide how to cover rhododendrons. They can tolerate temperatures as low as minus 35-40oC. Moreover, this indicator is calculated only for the kidneys, the plant itself can easily endure colder winters. However, it must be remembered that evergreen shrubs and trees continue to evaporate the available moisture even in winter.
So that the rhododendron does not die from withering due to the fact that the necessary water does not flow throughfrozen soil, it must be provided with a proper supply of fluid since autumn. To do this, the earth is well loosened, watered and mulched with ordinary pine paws. You can use oat straw, but this innovation is not suitable for all plant varieties. After that, you need to continue sparse or moderate watering until the ground around the bush freezes.
Next, the question of how to cover rhododendrons for the winter is directly decided. After the first frost, the layer of pine paws is increased, the lower lateral processes and roots must be covered with a thin layer of prepared acid peat, pine needles or high-quality compost. All further actions depend on which variety is grown on the site.
Shelter for thermophilic species
If a cold-tolerant variety grows in the front garden, additional measures will be required. How to cover rhododendrons for the winter to protect the most heat-loving species? You will need special frames made of kraft paper or horticultural covering materials (agrotex, spandbond, lutrasil and many others). You will also need pine or spruce spruce branches and, in some cases, a dry oak leaf. All deciduous varieties are hardy enough that all you need to do is bend the branches to ground level and secure them under the snow.
Autumn-winter care for an amazing plant ends here and resumes in the spring. When the snow begins to melt, moisture stagnation can occur at the roots. If thishappens, how to cover the rhododendron for the winter, it will no longer matter. The main question will be how to preserve the roots. To prevent such a situation from arising, it is necessary to make a special groove in advance, located around each landing. Through such a drain, excess water accumulated after the snow melts will drain.
Now everyone knows how to cover rhododendrons for the winter, you only need to remember a few rules for removing such protection. Release the plant carefully, on a cloudy day or in the evening. Leave a little shade for a while to avoid sunburn on the leaves. If there is a lot of snow in winter, it would be better to create an additional breathable frame made of boards, which will protect the branches from excess weight and breakage.
