How to Care for an Anah Kruschke Rhododendron Plant
The Anah Kruschke rhododendron (R. Anah Kruschke) is a cultivated variety that grows up to 5 feet tall and can tolerate winter temperatures down to minus-15 degrees Fahrenheit. The Anah Kruschke rhododendron also has a better tolerance to heat and scorching sun than other varieties. This rhododendron blooms in globe-shaped clusters of 10 to 12 purple, funnel-shaped, 3-inch-wide flowers. The shrubs have evergreen, glossy and yellowish-green leaves that are 4½ inches long. This rhododendron can be planted in landscapes as an individual specimen, foundation planting or hedge shrub.
Water your Anah Kruschke rhododendron deeply and thoroughly once each week during the summer when rainfall is less than 1 inch.
Feed in late spring or early summer with a fertilizer made for acid-loving plants, or a 6-10-4 NPK formula. Spread the fertilizer on the ground around the base of the rhododendron over the entire root area, applying a rate of 2 pounds per 100 square feet of planting bed.
- The Anah Kruschke rhododendron (R. Anah Kruschke) is a cultivated variety that grows up to 5 feet tall and can tolerate winter temperatures down to minus-15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of coarse organic mulch on the ground over the root area to control weeds and preserve soil moisture. Pull the mulch about 2 to 3 inches away from the trunk.
Prune the rhododendron immediately after the shrub finishes flowering to reduce its height or shape the shrub. You can prune dead, damaged or diseased branches anytime of year.
Tip
Keep dry by withholding water in September to help the shrub to harden for winter. If you have a dry or drought-like fall, water the rhododendron after the first killing frost to thoroughly moisten the soil before the prolonged cold weather sets in.
Warning
Beware of prolonged below-zero temperatures during winter, which can injure the rhododendron. If you expect temperatures to remain below zero, wrap the shrub in burlap, removing the covering during the day when temperatures warm up.
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Tips
- Keep dry by withholding water in September to help the shrub to harden for winter. If you have a dry or drought-like fall, water the rhododendron after the first killing frost to thoroughly moisten the soil before the prolonged cold weather sets in.
Warnings
- Beware of prolonged below-zero temperatures during winter, which can injure the rhododendron. If you expect temperatures to remain below zero, wrap the shrub in burlap, removing the covering during the day when temperatures warm up.
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Sarah Terry brings over 10 years of experience writing novels, business-to-business newsletters and a plethora of how-to articles. Terry has written articles and publications for a wide range of markets and subject matters, including Medicine & Health, Eli Financial, Dartnell Publications and Eli Journals.
