Rhododendron catawbiense massed around colonial building in Salem, Mas^ 
evergreens for edgings. Planted by Harlan P. Kelsey 
)Iets, and 
The Successful Rhododendron Bed 
SIMPLE RULES AND SURE RESULTS 
The highest ambition of the plant-lover is to have a successful bed of Rhododendrons, together with other 
ericaceae and flowering plants that naturally go with them. How few succeed is well known. Many, discouraged 
by the imagined or heard-of difficulties, never even make the attempt. And yet, under average conditions, success 
is as simple and sure as with ordinary shrubs. It is a question of doing Just the right thing, before, during 
and alter planting. 
NATURE KNOWS BEST. Rhododendrons — and I include under this term Azaleas. Kalmias, Leucothoes, 
and other ericaceous gunera and similar native (and exotic) plants — grow naturally in shady, damp situations, 
being surface feeders with fine hair-like rootlets. Plainly, therefore, dry, hard ground or drought checks 
growth or kills outright; nature provides against this; yet how many gardeners do? 
FIRST, EXCAVATE THE BED. A deep, porous soil prevents drought; excavate 2 to 3 ft. or more and see that 
in clay soils good drainage is provided, so that water will not stagnate in the bottom and make "sour ground." 
MATERIAL FOR THE BED. Rhododendrons live largely on vegetable mold and humus; therefore, fill in 
with a mixture of leaf-mold, rich loam, 
ield sods, swamp muck or peat, with 
one-tenth sharp sand and one-tenth at 
least of well-rotted manure. The cen- 
ter of the bed should be raised above 
surrounding ground from 6 to 12 inches 
or more, according to diameter of beds 
and elevation of nearby features. 
PLANTING. Platit same depth 
as before (shown by earth line on 
"collar" of stem) and firmly press soil 
around roots with foot, but don't 
pack earth too solid — Rhododendrons 
are not telegraph poles. Lilies and 
other bulbs and smaller ground-cover- 
ing species should be planted after the 
larger plants are all in and properly 
spaced. 
THE GREAT SECRET. Mulch, 
and yet mulch again, aU the year 
round. This is the great Rhodo- 
dendron secret. As soon as planted, 
cover the entire surface of the 
ground with a vegetable mulching — - 
preferably hardwood leaves — to the , ^ : - ' ' "^ilte^^Vi" — vt;v \, . '^--^ - v_^.a««;d3 
depth of a foot when reasonably well - — - . . 
packed. Rhododendron maximum nias!>ed by Mr. Kelsey under forest trees 
3 
