Need advice on trimming back Rhodos for a fence

 I planted about 10 small rhodos years ago on my side of the property line  
between my and my neighbors common back yard. The plants are now six to  
nine feet high and spread a bit over the line onto my neighbors side. The  
plants are beautiful and made a great natural yard divider but they now  
want to install a fence and we have to cut back some of the rhodos on  
their side.

There's nothing I can do about this, but I was looking for advise on how  
and where to prune and if there are things to do or to avoid doing to  
minimize shock and damage to the plants. I gave the plants some HollyTone  
about two or three weeks ago.

I have about two weeks (until mid June) to prune. Flowering is done and  
I'm in South Jersey.

Thanks!

Ted

 

Now is the time to do it.  If you wait until mid-summer you will loose
next year's flowers.   I would start by putting stretching a string line
where you need to prune.  Prune just inside that line. Then go back and
prune a little more to make the plants a little more presentable.  You
don't want large limbs to go up to the fence and stop.  To make it
easier on yourself, I would leave enough room so you can get between the
plant and the fence to prune the plant to keep it from growing through
the fence.

If the plants are otherwise healthy, your applying fertilizer doesn't
serve much purpose.  It is forcing the plant to produce new growth that
will be cut off.  Since it is early in the season, the plant will regain
the strength it spends on this activity.

For more info on pruning rhododendrons, visit:

http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman3/rhodyho.html#anchor1078039
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Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
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Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA  Zone 6

 Thanks for the Rhodo pruning advise. I will take your advise and do it as  
soon as possible although
I don't see how it will matter if the side I prune will not have flowers  
next year
since it will the side against a fence (and facing the neighbors, not my  
side).

Ted


wrote:

 

Forming flower buds takes energy away from the plant.  If you prune
before the buds are formed, you will get a much nicer plant facing your
side of the fence, denser foliage and more bigger flowers.
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to rhodyman@earthlink.net
Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
       http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
       http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhodybooks.html
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA  Zone 6