Among the plants often used in landscape design, the evergreen Hague rhododendron, a specially bred hybrid variety that is highly frost-resistant and feels great in Central Russia, deserves special love.
History of occurrence
According to historical information, Haaga rhododendron was bred in Finland in 1974 at the University of Helsinki. This is the fruit of selection based on the Katevba variety of rhododendrons. To date, more than 80 varieties of this type of rhododendron are known.
Rhododendron The Hague - evergreen shrub with lush flowers
For your information! On the Internet you can find another name - Gaga rhododendron, but this is just a mistake in writing the variety. In the botanical encyclopedia, only the Hague rhododendron appears.
This species has a spherical crown of regular shape, quite branched and dense. The shrub is evergreen, perennial, reaching 1.5-2 m in height and up to 1.5 m in width. Unlike the more famous in Russia, Ledum has much more dense inflorescences - up to 20 flowers per branch. The branches are gray, smooth, large large flowers of saturated pink color with a scattering of red spots on the inside, wavy at the edges.
The leaves are dark green in color up to 8 cm long and up to 5 cm wide. The petiole reaches a length of up to half the size of the leaf. Haaga hybrid rhododendron blooms briefly, only 2-3 weeks, starting in mid-June. It can grow both in partial shade and on the sunny side.
The distinctive features include a significant deciduous part (unlike other varieties), large and lush inflorescences during the flowering period. Moreover, it is evergreen.
Important! Evergreen shrubs change foliage once every two years, and in winter they fold leaves into a straw, reducing moisture evaporation.
Use in landscape design
The Hague rhododendrons feel great on the north side of the site, in the shade of buildings or coniferous and fruit trees.
Note! The plant has a superficial and wide root system, so it does not take root in the vicinity of cultures with a similar structure of root systems.
Also, rhododendrons love moisture, so they can be approached creatively by planting near artificial reservoirs, flowering will be bright and lush. The presence of coniferous needles in the soil will also be beneficial.
Rhododendrons love penumbra and grow well in the shade of trees.
How to plant rhododendron
The Haag Rhododendron, like its brethren, loves acidified soils, well-drained without stagnation of groundwater or other waters. Planting is best done in prepared soil with a composition of earth, acid peat and rotted conifer needles in a ratio of 3: 1: 2.
Before planting, the soil is dug up, removing weeds. Then dig holes with a size of about 70 to 70 cm. The distance between the bushes should be at least 1.5 m.
If the soil is heavy, then a drainage layer of about 15 cm is made at the bottom of the pit, and then the prepared soil mixture is poured. Rhododendron is placed in the hole, digging, but not tamping the ground.
Important! The root neck of the plant can not be deepened into the ground, this will lead to the death of the plant.
Around the bush at a distance of about 0.5-1 m from the neck of the root, a furrow is made for irrigation and the seedling is abundantly watered. The soil is mulched with peat or needles, making the layer thickness up to 8 cm.
How to propagate
It is possible to increase the population of the Hague rhododendrons only by cuttings and the method of layering, since planting seeds does not guarantee the preservation of color qualities and specific properties of new bushes.
Cuttings are made from partially lignified branches. Pruning is carried out in July, and the size of the cuttings should not exceed 10 cm. The lower leaves are removed, and the cuttings are lowered into the growth-promoting solution for 15 hours. Then the cuttings are planted in a peat-sand mixture in a ratio of 1: 1, maintaining an angle of 30 °, covered from above with a glass or plastic cap, avoiding contact with the branch.
Note! For successful germination of the root system must be constant humidity and heat. In this case, the roots will appear after 2-4 months.
Rooted cuttings are planted in a peat-coniferous mixture with a distance of a meter between future bushes, and they are transplanted to a permanent place after a year or two.
Cutting of rhododendrons
The layering method for many is becoming simpler and more efficient. To do this, choose strong shoots that are closest to the ground. At the point of contact with the ground, a longitudinal incision is made at the branch, fixing it in the open state. The shoot is fixed in the hole with a bracket, at the top there should be a part of the branch of about 20 cm. The rooting shoot is sprinkled with soil, watered and fed.
Important! A new bush can be cut off from the mother and planted in a new place only after two years.
Description of Rhododendron Care
To grow a healthy and strong plant in the open field is not difficult, if you follow the simple rules of care. Among them are pruning, top dressing and mandatory preparation for winter.
Plant pruning rules
Every spring and autumn, the bush needs sanitary pruning. Dry, broken and frozen branches are cut 3-5 cm below the damage. The same applies to the strong growth of rhododendron, but it is important to do this during a period of slow sap flow.
The rejuvenating pruning of the Hague rhododendron has the following description: all shoots are cut 15 cm from the tops, the places of cuts must be processed using standard methods.
How to prepare a plant for wintering
Despite the fact that the variety is characterized by sufficient winter hardiness, it is recommended to carefully cover young rhododendron bushes in the open ground for the first 2-3 years. Before freezing, around the second half of October, the plant is abundantly watered and the root system is carefully covered with spruce branches or oak leaves. In areas of severe frosts, non-woven fabric is additionally used, which is left until April. Lapnik or foliage is removed only in May.
How to Fertilize Rhododendron
Top dressing is not too important for the plant, but it can make its bloom much more magnificent. Rhododendrons are fed from May to July. Ready-made mineral complexes are well suited, most importantly, the absence of chlorine or lime. It will not be superfluous to use rotted manure on top of the earth in autumn or spring.
Weak or non-blooming buds are a sign of problems.
What to do if buds do not appear
The lack of buds and flowering may be due primarily to a lack of moisture. This will also be signaled by the leaves of the plant wrapped in a tube. Another reason is the increased hardness of water, as well as the predominance of nitrogen in the soil. In this case, the foliage will be plentiful, green and lush in the absence of flowers.
Take care of the plant in this case as follows:
- increase irrigation with rainwater or water with several tablespoons of high soil;
- necessarily fed with manure in the spring, phosphorus and potassium top dressing in late June-early July, potash top dressing in the fall.
Diseases and Pests
Shrubs of this family are susceptible to fungal diseases. This is due to increased humidity in the air and in the soil, as well as poor air permeability of the earth. In this case, dark spots appear on the plant. Various drugs containing copper, for example, Bordeaux liquid, will help to cope with this. It is necessary to spray the bush with excess, best in the evening.
Important! Moisture on the plant in sunny weather entails severe burns.
If necessary, spraying is repeated after a week.
To protect rhododendrons from insect pests such as spider mites, weevils and others, the use of karbofos and similar preparations is suitable.
Rhododendron The Hague is perhaps the best plant that can decorate gardens and courtyards in a changing Russian climate. Planting and caring for young seedlings is possible even for a beginner grower.
