What to do if the rhododendron turns brown after winter - we save the bush

Tell me what to do if the rhododendron turns brown after winter? The bush wintered for the first time; it was planted only last spring. We live in the south, usually there are no abnormal frosts. She didn't cover him too much, she just surrounded him with spruce branches. Is that a flower frozen? Will he be able to recover and can there be any help?

Rhododendrons are real capricious and do not grow in all gardeners. Not only do they need special soil and careful maintenance, but our winter also throws up surprises. The question of what to do if the rhododendron turns brown after winter arises quite often. The thing is that a very limited number of varieties are capable of overwintering without damage in our climate. Most shrubs have low frost resistance. Some of them can still grow, provided a thorough winter shelter is organized, others will not be helped. Therefore, we see dead branches in the spring, and sometimes a completely frozen bush. Why does this happen and is it possible to help the plant?

The reasons why the foliage of the rhodendron darkens in spring

Evergreen crops that leave with foliage during the winter make it easier to see problems. Like other plants, leaves are an indicator of health. If in the fall they were green, and in the spring they turned reddish-brown and twisted, there may be several reasons:

1. Complete freezing. In this case, the leaves on the branch usually dry out completely, curl and even fall off. The shoots themselves or their tops also freeze slightly.
2. Partial freezing (if the foliage is not dry, but simply turned brown).
3. Sunburn. This is a direct result of the fact that the frozen shrub lost its immunity, weakened and could not resist the bright spring sun.
4. Fungal disease, in particular - anthracnose mottling that appears as brown spots.

In the first case, it is unlikely that it will be possible to help the plant. If there are no living buds on a branch, it will have to be completely removed by cutting off until living tissue appears. Otherwise, the shoot will become a breeding ground for pathogenic fungi.

What to do if rhododendron turns brown after winter

In case of partial freezing, the most damaged leaves should be removed, and the bush itself should be treated with a growth stimulator. Epin works well (2 ampoules for a bucket of water). This will help the rhododendron recover faster. It is imperative to shade the plant so as not to aggravate the situation.

All leaves, fallen or cut off, must be burned - they may contain infection.

To recover from sunburns, the rhododendron will be facilitated by feeding with iron sulfate. However, it is important to follow the instructions so that there is no overdose. In case of fungal infection, it is better to use Bordeaux mixture (1%) or captan suspension (0.5%). It is better for a weakened rhododendron not to allow full bloom, but to cut off the buds. For the next winter, it is imperative to cover the bush well so that the situation does not repeat itself.

Should you be afraid of winter when growing rhododendrons - video