Rhododendrons are a fantastic addition to any garden, offering striking colour and a stunning floral display when in full bloom. If you grow them, you're guaranteed a magnificent show of flowers come summertime.

However, if you want to ensure they return year after year with the same breath-taking display, there's a simple yet essential task everyone should be carrying out. Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish recently revealed that immediately after flowering is the optimum time to lavish some TLC on your rhododendrons. Ish said: "If your rhododendron has started flowering, that's incredibly exciting, but directly after its flowering is quite an important job.

"Now, rhododendrons, or rhoddy dendies, as I call them, have these absolutely gorgeous spring flowers. I mean, there are an absolute abundance of them, as well."

To give them the best possible chance of flourishing again next spring, Ish recommended this widely practised gardening technique to help them thrive. Shortly after flowering, you'll want to give your rhododendrons a thorough prune, reports The Mirror.

Once the blooms begin to fade, a light trim is in order. Be careful not to over-prune, however.

To determine precisely how much needs cutting back, Ish advised examining the plant's stem and locating any healthy buds. Once you've spotted where the healthy buds are situated, trim the stem just above them.

Resist the urge to prune down into the woody section of the stems, as you risk the flowers failing to return altogether the following year.

Ish said: "If you're wondering why you should do this directly after flowering, well, the answer is: rhododendrons start their flowering process from summer, all the way through until next year.

"So if you cut this at the end of summer, chances are you're cutting off all the buds that are ready to go in spring next year. So you want to make sure you preserve those.

"Get it done early, and as a result, it'll develop new growth and even more flowers, just like this one. So if you want beautiful flowers every year for your rhododendron, now you know what you're doing."

The Royal Horticultural Society noted that rhododendrons generally require little pruning beyond the removal of dead wood and deadheading of spent blooms where practical. As late winter approaches, experts at Gardeners' World recommend clearing away any dead or damaged wood while the plant remains dormant.