By Kenneth Cox, Glendoick
In heavy clay soil, a raised bed is best: 30-45cm deep on top of the clay soil. Make a soil-compost-bark-peat etc mix and plant into this.
Ensure plant is well-watered (but allowed to drain) before planting. Mix some organic matter (see above) into the existing soil as a planting medium. Soil should be firmed up around the roots but do not stamp on the rootball; avoid compacting the soil. For bare rooted stock, October to early April is the best planting time. Container stock can be planted at any time but if planted May-August water through the first growing season.
Rhododendrons must not be planted too deep. The rootball should be just below the surface. If you bury the rootball, you may kill the plant. Do not put very thick layers of mulch over the rootball
Varieties with large leaves, early growth or which are on the tender side for your climate require shelter from wind, particularly from south westerlies and north easterlies. Options if shelter is poor:
Tender scented varieties can be grown in greenhouse/conservatory and brought in to house in flower. Rhododendrons dislike central heating and seldom succeed as house plants so need to be grown in a cool greenhouse; outdoors in summer. Ensure pots have good drainage and keep on the dry side. Feed and repot when plant becomes very pot-bound. Do not over pot as Maddenia and Vireyas like to be a bit pot-bound. Indica (indoor) azaleas good indoors, best put outside in Summer.
Mail order for Autumn 2024 to Spring 2025 is now online
Orders are delivered/collected from 1st October to end of March when plants are dormant. You can order at any time of year. Our Garden Centre has stock for collection year round.
We deliver to UK including N Ireland and Norway. We are not delivering to EU countries at present (Brexit rules). We are currently able to delivery to S. Ireland but only larger orders and there may be some extra transport costs.
Minimum Mail order £120 ex vat (UK) £500 (Norway)
Postage and packing from £21 per box of up to 30 kilos (10-25 plants)
All orders must be placed online in the webshop. Please use e mail to contact us. orders@glendoick.com