BEAUTY OF 
LITTLEWORTH 
MRS. 
Gi LEAK 
COMPARATIVELY 
SUCGESSh Ubi xe 
We maintain that if they are planted correctly in the beginning, 
attention. 
MULCHING: After planting, mulch with two or 
three inches of peat, decayed leaves, or dried fern. 
This mulch has a three-fold purpose. 1) It pro- 
tects the roots from drying out. 2) It helps con- 
serve moisture. 3) It ultimately becomes a source 
of food available to the surface feeding roots. On 
well established specimens, a top dressing of de- 
cayed cow manure, applied before the fall rains, 
will be found beneficial. 
WATERING: The progenitors of most Rhododen- 
dron hybrids are native to regions where the 
humidity is relatively high so that during warm 
summers days the plants appreciate overhead 
sprinkling night and morning to reduce the evapo- 
ration rate on leaf surfaces. They imbibe water in 
quantity during the growing season, but over- 
watering is disastrous if the soil has been insuf- 
ficiently lightened and water accumulates about 
SPEAKING 
PROVIDED TEE 
RHODODENDRONS ARE 
ABOVE 
DIAN SOME C ICS) TKO) EIRO YY 
SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED. 
they will require very little future 
OAKLAND 5,: CALIFORNIA 
79530 MOUNTAIN BLVD. 
TELEPHONE: LOCKHAVEN 8-051] 
America’s Finest 
RHODODENDRON 
Hybrids 
RHODODENDRON 
CULTURE 
SOIL: Generally speaking, 
an acid soil that is well drained. A generous ap- 
Rhododendrons require 
plication of peat or well decayed leaves scattered 
on the bed before spading will provide a friable 
compost for the hair-like roots and also assist in 
keeping the soil acid. 
PLANTING: Rhododendrons are essentially sur- 
that the 
top of the root ball is barely one inch below the 
face rooters, therefore, plant them so 
soil level. We feel safe in saying that 90% of the 
cultural difficulties encountered are directly trace- 
able to deep planting. 
Dig a hole several inches in excess of the ball’s 
depth and width, fill in around the ball with equal 
parts of peat and loam, tamp with a shovel handle 
to prevent undue settling and water thoroughly. 
In a heavy clay, we advise that the soil be re- 
moved to at least twice the diameter of the ball’s 
width and replaced with a silty loam. Planting 
may be carried out between the months of Sep- 
tember and April, but we strongly recommend 
that this operation be performed in the fall so that 
<> 
LANGLEY 
PARK 
the plant has a chance to become established be- 
fore the summer months. 
the root system. The questioa of adequate drain- 
age cannot be too strongly emphasized. A mini- 
mum of water is required during the dormant 
period which occurs in late fall. 
sPeI hI? 
WVORMALD 
SHELTER: Partial shade and protection from cut 
ting winds is essential. Good shade trees include 
the following, pines, oaks, larch, larger magnolias 
and the flowering fruit trees. Dense overhead 
shade is not to be recommended because a certain 
amount of sunlight is necessary to “ripen” the 
wood in order that flower buds may be formed 
also to the plant from becoming 
and prevent 
leggy and drawn. 
AFTER FLOWERING: Remove all faded blooms 
from the plants to prevent the formation of seed 
pods. This will conserve the plant's strength and 
help promote sturdy new growth. 
