The best time to prune rhododendrons is just after they bloom because this is the period when they put out the most vigorous vegetative growth. It is your rhododendron and you can prune it in any way you want, but most people would be happy with this one the way it is: dense growth, leaves to the ground with no bare stems showing, lots of bloom (presumably), well adapted to its location. There are a few rhododendron species which naturally grow in a tree like form. Most do not. Yours clearly is one which grows in a bush form. Once you start pruning you will actually stimulate denser growth. To maintain it in a more tree like form - which would be an unnatural growth pattern - would require a great deal of pruning at least annually. Without knowing the particular variety of rhododendron or where you are located, it is hard to say if your plan is practical. There have been some recent photos in this forum from the PNW showing very large rhodendrons, much greater than seven feet in height, pruned as trees. This may or may not work in your location.

Appreciate the response. I am in the PNW, where rhododendrons flourish everywhere. I wasn't aware that certain rhododendrons are more likely to grow in a tree-like form. I don't mind the rounded, dense rhododendron at all---the boundary of my parents' back yard is surrounded by rhododendron bushes and, in that setting they look nice. I would like something more tree-like, with a more interesting shape, in the front of our property.

Do you think I could successfully move it? It's about 6 feet high and maybe 5-6 feet wide. (I'm not good about estimating.) I would imagine it would need to be pruned to a smaller size to move, but then maybe it would be too much stress to move it as well?

If the rhododendron won't work for what I'd like in the front, I might just choose another appropriate bush to place there. Could you give me a few recommendations? Which type of rhododendron would be good for training in a more tree-like (sculptural?) way? What about other types of bushes---evergreen and otherwise---that might work? As I said, I'm a novice and could use all the advice I can get, Do have some gardening books and a good nursery nearby.

sail_away: Since you are in the PNW, you can undoubtably get much better information locally than I could possibly give you from the other side of the country. Try contacting the closest chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, county extension service or a good local nursery. Someone from the local ARS chapter could most likely identify the particular variety you have and assess the chances for success in pruning it into a tree like form. A nearby nursery with an with extensive stock of rhododendrons and other species would be your best source of information about other possibilities. Rhododendrons, even large ones like yours, are relatively easy to move if you have the means of coping with the weight involved in a large root ball. The timing of such a move is important, however. You want to move it when you can be reasonably sure of adequate rainfall. Again, local knowledge would be best.

Thanks again. I had planned to go to the upcoming Home & Garden show this weekend and had also noticed that the ARS was going to be represented there, as well as a university extension agency (master gardens). Thought I could get some good information there, but, unfortunately, my child has gotten sick and I am ''grounded'' this weekend.

Rhodies are relatively simple to move, even quite large ones. And there really isn't a bad time to do so, outside of our dry summers. Even that can be done if the new site is prepared in advance, the move is handled quickly and you water appropriately. I have moved rhodies of all sizes at all times of year.

Our native rhodies typically grow into a tree-like form. Rhododendron macrophyllum can reach heights of 20 feet in the wild in shadier areas but are more likely to get 8-10' in a garden setting and with a rangy habit that lends itself to training into a tree form. However, any large growing variety - some of the common garden hybrids - can achieve significant sizes with time here in the PNW and it is not at all uncommon to see older, well established shrubs trained in a tree-like manner and underplanted with ferns and groundcovers. Some that often fit this description are Jean Marie de Montague, Lem's Monarch, Pink Pearl and Loderi King George.

Any better garden center in the PNW will have a pretty full selection of rhodies of all sizes for sale now or in the next few weeks. Or take a drive over to Whitney Gardens in Brinnon (across the Hood Canal Bridge) to see them being grown and sold in situ. Also the Rhododendron Species Foundation Garden in Federal Way, which has a big spring sale in April (15th and 16th).

Gardengal, Thanks for the very helpful comments, especially from someone around here. We won't be doing much right now, as excavation should start in a few weeks. Then we will be staying out of their way as much as possible. Once the house starts coming together, though, we should be able to address the rhododendron.

Might not be moving it after all, as DH has decided he likes it just where it is. So I might try my hand at pruning and hope I don't mess it up.

Have you ever visited the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in Portland? It's worth a visit--very pleasant, with lake and even a small waterfall. Also lots of ducks and other birds in the area. They have some really old rhododendrons in one area that are HUGE trees---they form a large canopy over the walkways. I'm not looking for a tree that big, as I want it to complement the front yard, not take it over---but the ones at Crystal Springs are quite impressive.

If the pruning doesn't quite work out and you decide that you liked it better as a shrub, Rhododendron will cooperate. All you will have to do is to stop pruning.

Thanks, tete-a-tete. It's good to know that if I try my hand at pruning and it doesn't go well it's not irreversible. I can see why they are so popular in this area, as it seems they will do well with or without us!

I start at the bottom and select the trunk or trunks and work up from there. I remove any branch originating from the trunk that won't be part of the tree. After that, some branches can be shortened a bit, but I leave no stubs!

Mike

Miketann, That looks like exactly what I'd like to do. I'm definitely going to give it a try. I have read that the best time to prune a rhododendron is after it has completed blooming, so I'll wait for then. I also read not to prune more than 1/3 of the branches, so I'm going to be careful about that as well. If I can just open it up a bit I think it will be quite attractive.

Probably a good rule to follow - not pruning off more than a third. There is something about having a pair of secateurs in the hand that makes us go a little silly. Before you know it, you have a bald tree.

I remember a couple of Winters ago when I was a little stressed over something. I reached for the secateurs, the saw and a bottle of water. And went into the garden. When my partner got home, he said to me calmly, quietly, "Put down the saw and step away from the tree."

Just as well.

LOL, tete a tete. Maybe I'll ask DH to monitor my progress!

Beautiful, Mike.