Does rhododendron need to be covered for the winter: do all varieties of azalea need to be insulated, at what temperatures is this done, and what are the consequences of not doing this?

Rhododendron is a plentifully flowering indoor or garden plant. It will decorate any interior and transform the garden with its luxurious, fragrant and bright colors.

To enjoy its unprecedented beauty, gardeners spend a lot of effort on leaving. Is it necessary to shelter a flower for the winter, which is called old-fashioned azalea?

How to do this and what materials will be required for this, read in our article. Watch a useful video on the topic.

Do I need to close the azalea with the onset of frost?

With the onset of cold weather, many flower growers are puzzled by the questions: should plants be covered for the winterwhat covering materials to use for this and when to carry out the procedure. Questions appear for a reason.

If you do not prepare the flower for wintering, you may encounter the following problems:

Freezing of roots and young shoots.
Irreversible damage to the trunk.
Sunburn in the second half of winter.
Rodents.

ATTENTION: 10-degree frost for 5 days in the absence of snow and alternating thaws and frosts can destroy the root system of both adult plants and seedlings planted this year.

In the suburbs, some azaleas do not shelter, as they tolerate cold well. Shelter is necessary for bushes not winter-hardy hybrids and plant varieties. Knowing the climate instability in the region, preparations for wintering begin ahead of time, and covering with covering material is carried out with the onset of the first stable frosts.

At what temperature should I do this?

Experienced growers shelter frost-fearing rhododendron at a stable outdoor temperature of -10 degrees Celsius. They bend the stems of the plant to the ground and fix them with wire or a wooden slingshot.

Before bending the stems to the ground, they cover the root neck with a 15-20-cm layer of peat or dry leaves.

It will be important for the reader to learn more about materials and methods for shelters. You can learn more about how to cover rhododendron for the winter and how to make insulation for the plant with your own hands here.

What varieties?

Breeders bred non- and frost-resistant rhododendron varieties. The former do not need shelter at all, unless there are frequent 30-40 degrees of frost in the region. A striking example is deciduous azalea. It is enough to protect it from the bright rays of the spring sun by hiding behind a structure made of wire and special covering material.

The second ones always shelter, but they use not too dense materials for this, to prevent aging (the death of the bark and cambium) and decay of the flower. To do this, build a frame using a u-shaped reinforcement and a metal mesh, leaving 20 cm on each side in reserve.

From a good winter depends on how the Asian guest will bloom in the next season.

Mandatory conditions

To prevent the death of azaleas, you need to know when not to do without shelter:

if the winter is snowless;
if a rhododendron is planted in the garden, which does not tolerate frost;
if the region is quite a frequent occurrence - sudden changes in temperature.

Consequences for failure to comply with the terms of insulation

Sometimes, due to lack of experience, beginners do not cover up azalea in time. Some do it ahead of schedule, others later. Can their actions harm her?

Early

Rhododendron may die due to early shelter. The cause of death is not freezing, but aging. The plant loses ventilation. If it does not die, disclosure in the spring months will occur later. Do not be afraid of the first autumn frosts. They do no harm, but contribute to the transition to the winter cycle. Its growth stops, and nutrients accumulate in the shoots.

Later

Disastrous for azaleas and late concealment. If we allow a sharp freezing of the soil with excess moisture, the roots of the flower are in ice. Because of this, he receives mechanical damage, which often leads to his death.

Alternative winter preparations

With the onset of autumn, all plants are laying buds for next year. To save them during the winter, you need to help them survive the frosts. Even if the variety is winter-hardy, and in the region periods of thaw are replaced by severe frosts, it is better to cover it. Only in this way the kidneys, branches and superficial roots are kept healthy.

Before mulching the ground under the bushes, water the plant. Mulch - "clothes" covering the ground. It is needed to protect the plant from the scorching spring sun, drying wind, frost, etc. Azalea is hidden under a layer of rotted sawdust, needles, hay. You can not mulch the soil using manure and lime at the same time. You can’t use humus, as it can have a lot of weed seeds, which you will have to deal with in the coming summer to no avail.

The mulch layer is 5-30 cm, depending on which flower is short or tall. To do this, the branches are bent to the ground and fixed with wire. After that, a multi-layer shelter is built using corrugated cardboard, covering material and lapnik. Some gardeners use polyethylene and other airtight materials to organize winter protection. They do wrong, contributing to rotting of the kidneys and shoots.

IMPORTANT: Rhododendrons never shelter without waiting for steady colds.

The frame is insulated with durable materials. Sometimes roofing material is used for this, but it is ensured that there is a distance of 20-25 cm between the walls of the shelter and the shrub itself. To remove moisture, a flexible hose is laid under the frame. One end is placed outside. In spring, they get rid of the shelter, waiting for the snow to completely disappear from the site and timely preparing the flower for the bright rays of the sun.

An alternative way of sheltering is a stool. Its feature is a combination of transparent sides and a dark top. This method is good in that the azalea does not burn out, but still gets access to the rays of the sun. In the construction of such a shelter, reinforcement in the form of pins for the side walls and plywood for the roof will be needed. Top cover it with a transparent film, tucking the edge.

Useful video
Watch a video about hiding rhododendrons for the winter:

Conclusion

Rhododendron is a demanding garden plant. If you create conditions for him in which he will feel good, he will delight with an abundance of flowers every summer. If you do not prepare him for wintering, he may die.