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Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Thomas Rutter

How to revive old rhododendron plants – pruning advice from a professional gardener to save your struggling shrubs

Orange rhododendron blooms in a sunny spring garden border.

Rhododendrons are timeless garden classics and, with the right care, can live for a century or more. But, as they age, they can begin to look woody, straggly and bare-limbed. Whether you’ve inherited an overgrown specimen or have one that’s simply grown tired, fear not - learning how to revive old rhododendron plants is entirely possible.

During spring and summer, rhododendrons burst into life, injecting vibrant color into backyards. Whether you are a fan of the dwarf purple flowering Rhododendron impeditum, or perhaps you have a large orange flowering Japanese azalea, Rhododendron japonicum, these plants can be counted on to perform, so long as they are properly maintained.

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