Beautiful decorative shrub rhododendron is popular all over the world. It is actively used to decorate various sites and organize diverse decorative compositions in gardens, parks, and cottages. The main applications of this culture and the rules of cultivation are described further in the article.

The use of rhododendrons in landscape design

Rhododendrons are appreciated due to evergreen leathery leaves and large beautiful inflorescences. The main advantages of this culture are the variety of shapes, sizes and colors of inflorescences, foliage, uneven periods of bud opening.

These features of shrubs allow them to be used in landscape design when compiling a variety of compositions:

• alpine slides;
• flower beds;
• hedges.

Often, the mentioned representative of the flora is used in landscaping house territories, urban squares, to give a bright accent to the garden.

Video: Rhododendron in landscape design

Tapeworm planting

Rhododendron bushes are most often located on lawns alone. For such a planting, specimens are used that grow in height and width above 1 m. Two to three meter plants look spectacular. Typically, in single landings, high rhododendron is used to draw attention to the site.

The flower looks beautiful in itself, it does not need additions. For such compositions you only need to “beat” the background. This can be a neatly trimmed lawn or a zone covered with mulch (peat, bark). Also, the decorative effect of the tapeworm is emphasized with the help of a border created from beautiful stones or undersized plants.

For solitaire composition, rhododendron daursky is excellent.

Group landings

When cultivating rhododendron bushes in groups, it is worth combining plants that are in harmony in height and color of the petals. So, tall specimens (Ketevbinsky, Smirnova, Metternich, bell-shaped) should be placed in the background, as well as in the center. Low species and varietal specimens planted around the edges.

Important! In groups it is important to place bushes with a harmonious combination of flowers of inflorescences. So, violet, pink, white rhododendrons should be combined in decorative compositions with cultures whose petals have transitional colors. Purple specimens are combined with white varietal specimens.

In one group, yellow, orange and red inflorescences look interesting. But red, purple and pink should not be planted together. This combination is considered unsuccessful. Evergreen rhododendrons look beautiful in such a composition: purple-light purple-red-purple-white.

Another factor that should be given importance when combining representatives of the described genus into a decorative community is the flowering period. To make the composition attractive for as long as possible, early and late varieties should be planted together. Thus, when the buds on the early flowering specimens fade, the “late” flowers will open their buds.

Rhododendron looks beautiful near ponds. In addition, as a moisture-loving plant, he will appreciate such a planting, since there will be favorable conditions for him. Having planted at least three plants harmonious in color, you can get the original composition.

Did you know? The most expensive flower in the world is the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid. In 2005, the plant was auctioned for $ 202 thousand.

Alpine slide with rhododendron

A rock garden or an alpine hill is a popular element of decorating a site in which the presence of rhododendron bushes is desirable. A large area in the landscape composition should be occupied by undersized specimens, creeping, ground cover plants and conifers. Low rhododendrons look great in a composition that recreates the landscape of a high mountain valley. It is made in the form of an elevated embankment, which is fixed by a group of dwarf pines, using stone blocks similar to mountain fragments.

In this decorative element, the following plants are used:

• creeping conifers;
• short stature rhododendrons;
• heather;
• Erica;
• undersized creeping ground cover plants planted with curtains.

Rhododendron shrubs can be used to create a rocky garden. Mossy stones are placed in groups in it, leaving loose areas covered with moss or pebbled with pebbles. Ordinary pine or mountain pine, dwarf Christmas trees, mahonia, boxwood are planted as companions to rhododendrons. The composition is complemented by deciduous crops - willows, maples, barberries, almonds.

Flower beds

Rhododendron is great for creating a mono-flower - a flower bed in which one kind of plant is in the spotlight. It is very simple to create such a composition, since there is no need to specially select “neighbors” with the same preferences.

Important! When cultivating rhododendrons, one should adhere to the principles adopted in garden design. According to the recommendations, it is not necessary to cultivate deciduous and evergreen, small-leaved and large-leaved species and varietal specimens in one community.

The main thing is to decide on the purpose of creating a flower bed. There can be two of them:

1. Make a composition with long flowering - up to four months.
2. Create a flower bed with a harmonious combination of height and color of plants.

In the first case, it is necessary to group species and varietal specimens that have very early flowering periods (spiky, Ketevbinsky, Yakushimansky, dull), as well as plants that form buds in the middle and late periods (large leaves).

When selecting specimens with different heights, in front of the composition you need to have low views, for example, Bukhan, Sims, dumb, tight, and at the back - tall: Katevbinsky, Metternikha, Smirnova, Fortuna, wonderful.

If you want to add other plants to the rhododendron flower bed, then you need to place them in the foreground. Perennial crops should be attached to the finished flower garden several years later, when the main plants grow.

The foreground in the flowerbed can be decorated with ferns, bedstraws, tiarella, Japanese primrose, incense, black and eastern hellebores, Siberian irises, serrated buzulnik, red-brown geranium, snake mountaineer, etc. Planting background for plant composition is possible. Maple, oak, juniper, pine, willow, lilac will do well with this role.

Hedges

The described culture is great for creating hedges. They can be planted to simply limit the site or to cover an unsightly fence, buildings. Rhododendrons can grow in a "live fence" on their own or in combination with evergreen boxwoods, magonia.

Green hedges can be made from varieties such as Rh. catawbiense Michx., Rh. smirnowii Trautv. Ketevbinsky and other large species look very beautiful.

Low rhododendron bushes are suitable for use in mixborders. In the preparation of such a composition, it is necessary to plant several types and varieties of the described culture with different flowering periods. In the photo you can see an example of a mixborder scheme with purplish-pink pointed rhododendron (5), white Schlippenbach variety (6), raspberry Katevbin variety (7), orange and pink Japanese species (8, 9), lilac pukhan (10), large-leafed with pale pink flowers (11).

The following bushes were taken as companions:

• black hellebore (1);
• eastern hellebore (2);
• frankincense (3);
• frangipani (4);
• cogwheel (12).

What can be planted next to rhododendrons

Of course, the landscape composition must be composed harmoniously and tastefully. For this, it is important to choose the right plants for joint planting. Rhododendron in this regard is universal, because it combines well with many coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs.

There is a wide selection of flowers and herbaceous plants that look beautiful next to the described culture.You can pick any plants that can grow well in acidic soils and partial shade as companions to rhododendron shrubs.

Did you know? Rafflesia or “cadaveric lily” is recognized as the heaviest flower in the world. One plant can weigh 10 kg.

Conifers

One of the best combinations is the combination of rhododendrons with conifers and conifers - spruce, pine, thuja, yew, juniper. Against the dark background of evergreens, rhododendron bright flowers look very beautiful, especially in light colors.

In addition to a spectacular decorative combination, conifers also protect heat-loving rhododendron bushes from cold winds and winter drying. As an example of the location of conifers and rhododendrons in one composition, you can use the scheme in the photo.

In the neighborhood successfully harmonize:

• hybrid rhododendrons Caractacus and Calsap;
• western thuja Brabant;
• subbubble magonia;
• Diabolo Kalinolistny;
• pea cypress Filifera Nana;
• western thuja Globosa and Sunkist;
• annuals.

Hydrangea and other deciduous shrubs

The garden is especially charming with rhododendron stands with partner shrubs. To rhododendrons in a pair you can put witch hazel, low-flowered corylopsis, viburnum Karls, dogwood, Japanese spirea, rocket, stephanander.

Another lover of acidic soils will ideally fit into the landscape composition - hydrangea. In partial shade, it is better to plant a tree-like species, in sunny areas - paniculate. Finnish varieties of rhododendrons, Katevbinsky, Smirnova are well combined with hydrangea.

Flowers for flowerbed with rhododendron

In partners to the described culture, it is necessary to select plants on the flowerbed that will emphasize its beauty. Astrantia, hosts, daylilies, forest anemone, sister violet, and hearty tiarella will cope well with this role.

To create a flowerbed of continuous flowering, you can use these tips:

1. To plant early-flowering bulbous crops: daffodils, crocuses, muscari, blueberries.
2. Nearby, there are varieties of rhododendrons: Daurian, spiky, Ledebura, Sikhotinsky, farsha and others, blooming from April to mid-June.
3. Finish the composition with rose bushes that open buds until the first frost in the fall.

Rhododendrons can also pass the baton in bloom to astilbe, anemones. Covering crops that have already lost their decorativeness in the flower garden are capable of beautiful herbaceous plants, for example, rogers, heicher, host.

Of the herbaceous plants, the good companions of the evergreen and deciduous rhododendron shrubs are chernon, spear-shaped mnogoryadnik, ostrich, and Japanese coomber.

What trees are combined with rhododendrons

The described culture is one of the few that can successfully grow near tall trees, and most importantly - to enhance the decorativeness of such stands. Also, when planting, it is necessary to isolate the planting pit for decorative culture with roofing material, tin or slate, which will limit the penetration of trees into the deepening of the root system.

The successful combination of rhododendron with conifers has been mentioned above. Of the deciduous ones, oak, birch, fruit trees, and other species having a deep root system are excellent neighbors for the described plant.

Important! In compositions, you should pay attention to the fact that rhododendron bushes do not stay in dense shade - above them there should be an open sky, unshaded by foliage.

Rules for growing rhododendrons in the garden

Since rhododendrons are heat-loving plants, most species and varieties can be grown only in regions with a mild climate. In the middle lane, species specimens with increased frost resistance will be able to grow.

These include:

• Daurian;
• Canadian;
• Japanese.

Planting and caring for the rhododendron bush is not difficult. With knowledge of some of the nuances, even a beginner in crop production can easily cope with the cultivation of this crop. For planting, you should choose a well-lit area or a place located in light partial shade. Only under such conditions, the decorative shrub will be fully revealed.

Important! Do not plant rhododendron close to buildings and along the southern facades of buildings. In such areas for them unsuitable soil and lighting, which will negatively affect the decorative bush.

The soil mixture to fill the planting pit should be prepared by mixing horse peat, chernozem and humus (in a ratio of 4: 1: 1). You can also add coniferous sawdust. For filling, you can take ready-made soil mixtures specially designed for rhododendrons. You can buy them in garden stores.

When caring for the crop, the main thing is to provide the bush with a lot of moisture and fertilize it regularly. It is important to moisten the soil well, but at the same time make sure that the soil is not “swampy”. Water for irrigation should be used either diluted or acidified. Since August, heavy watering should be stopped.

Fertilize the shrub with mixtures specially designed for rhododendrons. Recommended feeding times:

• during the formation of buds;
• during flowering;
• In the end of August.

The first two top dressings are carried out with complex fertilizer, in which there is no calcium. During the third application, potassium sulfate is used. Before winter, decorative culture needs to be warmed. The crown should be wrapped with non-woven material, cover the trunk circle with a high layer of mulch. So that the crown is not damaged by snow, it is advisable to install a protective frame over the plant in the fall.

So, rhododendron can be called a universal plant for decoration, landscaping. It is suitable for single and group plantings, goes well with coniferous and deciduous trees, shrubs, flowering and herbaceous plants.