Pontic rhododendron: when and how to prune

Pontic rhododendron: when to prune it?

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Deadhead in June; renovation pruning in April.

What else to prune in those months? April · June

Pontic rhododendron: how to prune it?

1. In June, snap off the spent flower clusters just above the new buds or shoots.
2. Straight after flowering, shorten over-long branches to just above a whorl of leaves.
3. An overgrown, leggy shrub can be cut back hard in April to 30–50 cm above the ground: it regrows from old wood, but will not flower for one or two years.
4. If needed, spread hard renovation over two or three years, cutting part of the branches each time.

How much to cut, and how often?

• There are 2 pruning periods a year: April and June. You don’t have to prune in every one.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in April and June can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Rhododendron
• Barberry
• Blackthorn
• Box (buxus)
• Butterfly bush
• Californian lilac

Plant profile: Pontic rhododendron · Pruning calendar and basic rules