Could the pachysandra be choking my rhododendrons?

We have several tall rhodies along our driveway. This winter I plan to wrap the lower portions in burlap to prevent the deer from eating them as usual. They seem a bit leggy and sparse in the past few years. The previous owner planted pachysandra around the bottoms and it has taken over. I've cleared a lot of it from the root areas to give them some air and not have to compete for water.

Is this the time to fertilize? I have to re mulch around them since I takes everything from around the bases. I think the groundcover may be the culprit.

Advice?

I annually fertilize the Rhodies in the spring with the stuff for acid-loving plants. As for leggy, trim them in the spring after the blossoms fade. They can be cut back pretty severely and over the next year or so reward you with a bushy, happy appearance.

Have you been watering them regularly during the summer? Their need for watering can be deceptive. For most a summer they can look great and not seem to need water. However, if it is a summer like we just experienced, eventually they will begin to wilt and then the leaves roll up and droop. When that happens those branches are toast and should be trimmed.

I was not vigilant in watering them this past summe I did uncover a soaker hose around them so I need to excavate it and see if it works for future reference.

And keep on watering until the ground freezes, too.

mjc said:
And keep on watering until the ground freezes, too.

^^^this

and this also goes for any tree or shrub that was newly planted with in the last few years.