Azlea rhododendron blooms and pruning question

[jrmtl]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding this plant I planted outside last year and of which have producedsome nice blooms in spring ( unfortunetely it seems to bloom only once a year for a couple of weeks correct ? )

Here's a pic:




Where do I prune it on the branches after it has bloomed ?

Thx!
John

[Sharon Bryson]

John:
Your pic is a tad small to see any detail, but rhododendrons are self-pruning on each of the terminals which have a flower.
You can deadhead the spent bloom if you desire, but be careful not to damage the emerging buds at the base of the flower.
The only other pruning a rhodie needs is to occasionally nip out the emerging growth shoot which is single on a vegetative shoot in the late spring. This will encourage 2 or more leaf shoots as opposed to the one. Some rhodies are more prone to making these single shoots than others.
The purpose here is to increase the foliage production which results in a better looking plant.

Rhododendrons do usually bloom once(as do most flowering shrubs)....they are "June showoffs" in many parts of the country
Deciduous azaleas also bloom once, many bloom before the foliage emerges. They can be pruned after bloom to reduce legginess and also stimulate more basal growth. Unlike the large leaf rhodies, they will send out shoots almost anywhere along a stem. (Click for larger image)

[jrmtl]

Thx for the reply and the advice !

Here is a better pic ( close up )



I guess I can completely take off the top to the stem ?

[Sharon Bryson]

Are we to assume you have a deciduous azalea that has finished blooming? Funny there are not some new leafy shoots appearing at the base of the faded flower head!
Do you recall the variety name?

[jrmtl]

Not sure which specie it is but I know it is indeed called rhododendron.
I do see new shoots around the base of the stem near top .

I guess as you say it blooms once a year as last year it only bloomed once.
Is this about correct as to the variety ?

[jrmtl]

Hi again ...

I didn't get many flowers this year with my rhododendron azlea ( maybe one third of plant bloomed ). Here is a pic of it now. Should i just leave it again without pruning any branches ?





I really don't want to damage next years blooms.

thanks
JR