If your rhododendron has brown leaves, it may be due to winter damage. Remove the dead leaves. It should come back with late spring growth. You can also treat winter-damaged rhododendrons with a fertilizer formulated for them, such as Holly-Tone.
If you think, however, your rhodey is dead, do the scratch test. Scratch the bark on dead-looking branches with your fingernail. If there is green wood underneath, the branch is still alive. If it’s brown underneath, the branch is dead and you can prune it off. If the plant is completely dead, it needs to be removed.
If your rhododendron has brown leaves, it may be due to winter damage. Remove the dead leaves. It should come back with late spring growth. You can also treat winter-damaged rhododendrons with a fertilizer formulated for them, such as Holly-Tone.
If you think, however, your rhodey is dead, do the scratch test. Scratch the bark on dead-looking branches with your fingernail. If there is green wood underneath, the branch is still alive. If it’s brown underneath, the branch is dead and you can prune it off. If the plant is completely dead, it needs to be removed.