What's eating my pjm rhododendron?

PJM rhododendron is vigorous and relatively trouble-free, but lace bug is documented on this hybrid and remains the primary insect concern. Its early bloom and compact habit attract deer browsing in late winter before other food is available. Aphids, scale, and vine weevil also occur. Partial shade siting dramatically reduces lace bug pressure.

Yellow, stippled bleaching on upper leaf surfaces with brown tar-spot excrement on undersides. Adults and nymphs confirmed on PJM hybrids; sun-exposed plants suffer most. Spray leaf undersides thoroughly with insecticidal soap, pyrethroid, or neem oil in spring when nymphs hatch. Imidacloprid soil drench provides systemic season-long protection. Partial shade siting is the best cultural control.

Browse flower buds, new growth, and foliage in late winter and spring. PJM's early bloom makes the flower buds a target before other garden plants flush out. Apply deer repellent (egg-solid or capsaicin based) before bud break and after rainfall. Use wire fencing or individual plant guards for young or prized specimens. Interplant with deer-resistant species as a deterrent.

Waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides cause yellowing, dieback, and honeydew-driven sooty mould. Heavy populations visibly weaken plants. Apply dormant horticultural oil before budbreak to smother overwintering scales. Follow with a systemic insecticide in spring if populations persist. Prune heavily infested stems.