If you think rhododendrons are only for large gardens, think again. Dwarf rhododendrons – often called alpines – are absolute gems, especially for small town gardens or those tricky, exposed borders in bigger country gardens. These tiny, mat-forming evergreen shrubs come from some of the toughest environments on earth – the high Himalayas and other…
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Steve’s Secret to Perfect Hedges (and why mine was… politely removed from duty) One of the most common questions we get from visitors is: “How do you keep your hedges so full, green, and dense right to the ground?” The answer is simple — it’s all in the way Steve prunes them. All of our…
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Rainwater vs Irrigation: Why Plants Always Prefer a Natural Drink If you’ve ever walked around the garden after a good downpour and thought everything looked greener, brighter, and somehow happier, you’re not imagining it. Rainwater really is the best drink your plants can get. While well water, bore water, and treated town supply certainly keep…
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Stop and Smell the Rhodos – Discover the Fragrant Rhododendrons One of the questions I often get asked at the nursery is, “Are there any rhododendrons that are fragrant?”The answer is a resounding yes! And once you’ve grown a few of these beauties, you’ll find yourself seeking them out again and again. While colour often…
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Hot Winds, Cooked Flowers, and Resilient Rhododendrons What a windy start to our flowering season! Initially, our display garden was at least two weeks later than normal, but then one hot, windy Saturday arrived and everything seemed to change at once. The warm blast encouraged the flower buds to open — and at the same…
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Fighting Thrips the Natural Way 🌿 If you’ve ever noticed silvery patches on leaves, distorted flowers, or tiny little critters hiding inside blooms – chances are you’ve met thrips. These tiny sap-sucking insects might be small (less than 2 mm long!) but they can cause a lot of damage in the garden, especially when numbers…
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There’s something magical about the very first rhododendron flowers of the season. When the mornings are frosty, the air still has that winter bite, and most of the garden is quietly biding its time, these early bloomers jump the gun and deliver splashes of colour long before spring officially arrives. Here at RhodoDirect, the hard…
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When it comes to winter, some plants hunker down and hope for the best — but not rhododendrons. These hardy shrubs have evolved with some clever cold-weather coping strategies that make them true connoisseurs of chilly conditions. You’ve probably noticed the droop. Rhododendron leaves curl and hang in the cold — and it’s not out…
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If you haven’t already popped your spring bulbs in the ground… don’t panic, but now’s the time to get moving. I just found a rogue bucket of forgotten daffodils in my shed (whoops), and some of mine were so eager they actually flowered in May. Nature’s definitely having a bit of a laugh this season!…
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If you’ve ever dreamed of having vibrant rhododendron blooms but don’t have the perfect garden soil—or any garden space at all—you’re in luck. Rhododendrons are surprisingly happy in containers, making them perfect for patios, balconies, courtyards, and even rental properties. Whether you’re dealing with clay-heavy ground or just want to add colour and structure to…
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