I know the rhododendron is the state flower of Washington state, and tons of people love them, but I despise rhodies with a every fiber of my being. And unfortunately the house we bought has like 10 million rhododendrons on the property.
I don’t know what the plant did to me in a previous life, but I aim to chop down every single one of them on my property by next spring. Sadly though I can only do it one yard waste bin at a time. 🙁 At our other place I could just heave unwanted brush over the back fence… but not here, so it’s going to take some time.
Another thing that’s a little different with this property are all the pine needles. Monkey Boy blows them into a pile for me to rake up at least once a week but it’s still not enough to keep on top of them.
We had tall pine trees all over our last backyard but they were spread so far a part I guess I never really noticed what nuisance they can be when you are trying to keep a garden path clear all the time.
I may have to rethink my brick and pea gravel walkway I had planned to build this winter and switch to a brick and mulch walkway instead. If I don’t I think I’ll loose my mind trying to keep all the pine needles out of the pathway during the spring and summer months when I’ll be using it everyday.
On a brighter note… my Botanical Interests Seed order arrived yesterday! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I can’t wait to put all these babies to use in my winter garden. Our remodel should be done in just a few more weeks {and so will all my indoor projects} and then I’ll get to work on this years winter garden. There is SO MUCH TO DO before next spring!!! Holy cats people, starting over is hard work.
Luckily though I was able to get a jump start on things indoors. I planted basil seeds a few days ago under the grow lights and plan on getting a few more things planted this weekend so when I do finally get going on the backyard garden, I’ll have something to put in the ground {the basil will stay indoors though}.
How is your garden doing these days? Are you done for the year, so are you just getting started?
Mavis wants to know.
Kristin says
Can you not donate your Rhodos to someone? They are relatively easy to move using a tarp and a couple of strong guys. I have 40 Rhodos in my garden but love the way they make up the back bone of the garden. Yes, pine needles are a pain to clean up. Your Rhodo area is a good candidate for other acid loving plants like Pieris japonica, Heathers and Heaths and Skimmia. Maybe even a few Hellebores for winter flowers.
Peggy Stenglein says
Beautiful yard! I love rhododendrons! If you only lived in PA, I would be happy to take the root balls to give them a happy life!! Are your pine needles nice and soft? The long, soft ones are prized here for mulch, especially near pathways and areas like that.
Krista says
Oh my gosh, don’t even get me started on the pine needles! Evergreen trees are so beautiful, but dang it, every fall my family tracks in about 1,267,895,345 of those miserable needles and of course despite constant vacuuming, they always seem to find their way into MY socks. LOL I also despise rhodies and live in WA. We are in a rental right now and there is a GIANT HOT PINK rhodie in the front yard just to the left of the front door. By giant, I mean I don’t think it’s been pruned since 1970 and it’s no longer a bush, but a tree. It’s absolutely hideous and makes a huge freaking mess every year, not to mention the hordes of bees that swarm the front door trying to get the sweet sweet nectar from those ugly blooms. Our landlord thinks it’s lovely. I think he needs his eyes checked.
Mandi says
We removed all the Rhodies on our lot, too. Most of them were spindly and just not healthy anyway, and I needed the space! I attempted a winter garden this year, but it has just not worked out. A lot of it was placement. I was trying to start new things in among established veggies and they just got too shaded out or else chewed to pieces. Definitely need to plan better for next year to have a separate area for winter veggies if I expect them to thrive.
Tamara says
It makes me a little sad that you don’t love the beautiful rhododendron. Having grown up with them in the wonderfully perfect state of NC it seems almost unAmerican that you don’t feel the same. We are ADDING them to our yard! However, you need to make your garden/yard work for you and your family! Best wishes!
Leslie says
Put the Rhodies on Craigslist for free…they just have to come dig them up for themselves. Job done with little effort on your side. =)
Sue V says
My new favorite garden tool is the reciprocating saw! They even sell pruning blades for it. It makes easy work of clearing brush and in your case rhodies. Personally, I love rhodies and think they are a nice addition to most northwest yards. They are easy care and you might want to keep a few of them.
Deason Hunt says
Here in the piney woods of East Texas, we often “pave” our paths with shredded pine bark or pine needles. Go with the flow. 🙂
sharon says
You should offer them free on craigs list if they dig them out. I am sure you would get someone or many who would do that.
Emily says
What about using the pine needles to mulch your path? Nice soft path with free materials. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Jane H. says
I agree with Leslie, list them on Craigslist if they are not too large. However, I also sympathize with you, as we live in Tacoma (just south of Seattle for those not from Washington) and we just took out too very large ones, as well as a very large Camilia, which are even worse for clean up, and destroy all the plants that try to live among them!
Mavis Butterfield says
Some of them are 12 feet tall!! Yikes.
Julie B. says
I too have successfully used the “free u-dig” on Craigslist to offload unwanted rhodies. It’s the perfect time of year, and rhodies have such shallow root systems that even large ones can be moved.
Cassandra says
I am with you on the Rhodies. I have 3 Hydrangeas in my front yard that I haven’t been able to convince my husband to get rid of. I just keep cutting them down a little bit farther every year. I also have the hideous box evergreen shrubs that are out of control.