Rhododendrons have special requirements in terms of location and care. Mulching is a measure that improves the growth of these ornamental shrubs. However, the special summer bloomers do not tolerate any mulch material, so you should choose the substrate with care.
Mulch has several advantages
young plants
In the first few years, rhododendrons are grateful for a layer of mulch on the ground. Apply organic material such as lawn clippings, oak leaves, or pine needles about three to four weeks after planting. Depending on how much mulch material you have available, you can cover the plant disc or the entire bed. The latter variant ensures a well-groomed appearance. The mulch layer should not be higher than five centimeters.
Advantages for ingrown specimens
The rhododendron is one of the shallow roots that gets its nutrients from the top 20 centimeters of the soil. This property makes weeding difficult because gardening tools quickly damage the root system. A layer of mulch not only prevents excessive water evaporation from the soil, but also suppresses the growth of unwanted weeds.
Suitable materials
With the right substrates, a low pH value can be created in the soil, which offers the rhododendron optimal growth conditions. Mushroom manure is a popular mulching material. Due to the high pH value, this is not suitable for rhododendrons. Since the nitrogen consumption during the decomposition of organic substances is high, deficiency symptoms can occur. You can prevent growth disorders by working horn meal into the soil before mulching.
What the rhododendron tolerates:
- crushed pine bark and needles
- collected and finely chopped autumn leaves
- dried grass clippings from mowing the lawn
- shredded twigs and branches from pruning
Apply mulch
The thickness of the mulch layer depends on the size of your rhododendron. While large specimens tolerate a ten to 15 centimeter thick layer, the material should not be stacked higher than five centimeters for small varieties. Spread the substrate in autumn, it protects the soil from the winter sun and prevents frost damage. A layer of mulch applied in the spring supports the growth of ornamental plants during the summer.
tips
If the location is too dry and sandy, you can improve plant growth by adding rhododendron earth every year. A layer of mulch that is then applied is also useful here.