Sad rhododendrons

[antwaki]

Am a novice but these rhododendrons look unhappy to me! Could it have been the snow? I read that they sometimes suffer when it is very cold. The flower buds all look fine but the leaves are yellowish at the edges and has something eaten them? Or maybe I've not looked after them properly, anyone know what they need. They have an amazing dark red flower and I'd be gutted if I've killed them!!

Give them some fertiliser designed for Acid loving plants. They are quite tough and grow in the wild on high mountain ranges in Asia.
I doubt if the snow has killed it as it looks like a well established plant.
Mine go through ‘off’ seasons, but always rally with a bit of TLC.
Drought is their main enemy.

Thanks again JT! Much appreciated- yes I guess they can cope with a pathetic sprinkling of UK snow then eh?! Off to get some of the right food. Plus it is a dry corner and will water this year. Yes it's large and I love it so will give it some tlc and see if it cheers up.

A photo of my Rhododendrons, I’m terrified of killing them and being left with a big empty space!

Feed twice a year with Sequestrine of Iron, and top dress twice a year with Ericaseous compost. Don’t prune it .

Wow those are gorgeous! We just bought a second rhododendron today. I have high hopes of not killing it!

Wow JT what a display! They are lovely. Astrantia would you say ericacious compost rather than bark chippings? Woman at garden Centre said chippings would be good? Got some feed today. Do you guys plant anything underneath them at all? Where they have grown up mine look a bit bare in the surrounding ground.

Rhododendrons are tough as boots and virtually indestructible. They live in the Himalayas! I grow them in my garden in Scotland and they’ve survived snowdrifts and minus 10 temperatures.
Give them a generous feed with ericaceous compost a few times a year, during the growing season, and leave them alone over the winter. They’ll thrive and try to take over your garden in a few years!

Bark clippings take longer to break down in the soil. If you want that effect but with more benefit then I would choose composted bark.

There is a great company called Compost Direct, which have all sorts of really good compost.

For under planting epimedium or wood Anenomes for the winter or any woodland plant really.

Ericaceous compost is acidic, and specifically designed for plants like rhododendrons and heathers. You can get big cheap bags of it in Garden centres.