I need to know what to do with a rhododendron that has grown too big. I want to keep it, since it is a bookend to another plant. Can I cut it back, and if so, how far and when? Will it be okay and continue to bloom if I cut it back?
Could you suggest something and also suggest a really good book on care, etc., for rhodies?
The American Rhododendron Society’s page on pruning should be helpful. It describes clean-up pruning, shape pruning, and rejuvenation pruning.
Seattle author Cass Turnbull’s Guide to Pruning (Sasquatch Books, 2012). Plant Amnesty, founded by Turnbull, also has information on pruning an overgrown rhododendron.
The Rhododendron Species Foundation in Federal Way is a place you can visit to get an idea of the wide range of species available. They also have general information on rhododendron care on their website.
The Miller Library has a substantial collection of books on rhododendrons, including quite a few by Pacific Northwest authors, and you can browse them or check them out to see which species and varieties might be more suitable for your garden.