K e t s e p ' s Hardy Am e r i c a n Plants 
PREPARING RHODODENDRON BEDS 
and the Planting and Care of Native Plants 
The Azaleas, Rhododendrons and nearly all- ericaceous plants of this general type 
offered in our catalogue are erroneously considered by many very difficult to grow success- 
fully. This is because proper conditions of soil and location are not supplied, and one 
should bear in mind that in planting these things it is absolutely essential to start aright. 
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias and a large variety of American plants grow natur- 
ally in shady, damp situations, and are surface feeders with fine, hair-like roots, therefore 
drouth checks growth or kills outright very quickly. In preparing beds for these things, 
and especially Rhododendrons, a northern exposure should be chosen where possible, and 
preferably where there is shade much of the day. Excavate to a depth of 2 to 3 feet or 
more, and fill in with a mixture of leaf-mold, surface loam, swamp peat or muck or field 
sods, with a few loads of sharp sand. 
All material should be well-rotted and mixed. The ground should be kept thor- 
oughly mulched with leaves and moisture supplied in dry weather. Well-rotted manure 
may be used in preparing beds and an occasional top-dressing, but in no case must 
stimulating or heating manure be used. 
Ericacious plants will not grow in soil containing large quantities of lime in any form, 
and dry, hard ground is sure death. Almost any material containing vegetable matter will 
serve as a mulch. 
In winter protect Rhododendrons with pine or spruce boughs, particularly where 
exposed to the sun. Winter sun on the frozen leaves often kills Rhododendrons or 
spoils the foliage. 
Of course, a majority of the plants do not need such care, but all well repay careful 
preparation of beds and planting. Ferns and herbaceous plants especially thrive in the 
Rhododendron bed, and such an evergreen border may be made to produce a profusion of 
bloom the whole season by a judicious selection of species. 
In planting the rockery, see that ferns and other plants have soil connecting with the 
earth below, otherwise they dry out and die. 
With these instructions carefully carried out, our Native Plants are hardy and may be 
grown throughout the United States except, perhaps, in the extreme north and northwest, 
and the same may well be said of our beautiful native plants as of any others: give a good, 
rich, deep soil with abundant well-decayed vegetable food and good drainage, and the 
results must be satisfactory. We will gladly give advice and suggestions in this line 
to anyone wishing to know better how to successfully grow our charming native plants. 
6 
Leaf of Rhododcndrun maximum. 
