Hard pruning rhododendrons

Although generally low-maintenance, rhododendrons occasionally do need pruning to rejuvenate them. Timely pruning can bring a long-forgotten plant back into a pleasing shape and size.

Then, these long-lived woody shrubs will reward you by flowering and growing year after year with almost no care.

Pruning rhododendrons with hedge trimmer

Here's how and when to prune rhododendrons, plus a few must-know tips to help you take excellent care of all your rhodies.

Know Your Pruning Goal

A rhododendron growing inbounds of its planting area and lush with foliage should only need a light pruning.

But a very overgrown rhododendron needs a different pruning game plan. Take a minute to assess the state of the shrub before grabbing your pruners.

Pruning can do many things for overgrown rhododendron shrubs, including spur leafy new growth, increase the number of flowers in spring, and increase the overall size of individual flowers.

A loosely branched, lanky plant with few leaves on the lower stems or branches is most likely overgrown and ready for significant pruning.