Rhododendron sighting?

[mysteryduck]

Greetings hive mind! Just moved house.. I have three big bushes in my front yard.. I know nothing about gardening or plants.. Are these Rhododendron? (Rhododendrons?)

A few small green leaves are appearing so I don't think they're dead.

Google tells me they grow best in acidic soil, which leads me to believe that acidic is not usual for soil. Would most other flowers struggle in acidic conditions? I bought a temperature probe that happens also to have a pH meter on it, so will do a bit of probing once the snow is gone.

Google also tells me I should prune the dead flowers off. Some say after the end of summer, some say in the winter. Should I give them a bit of a snip now? They are getting a bit big, so I'd like to reduce..

[nickdub]

Not sure from the photos, but they look a bit like hydrangeas to me.

[chris_m]

They look more like hydrangeas to me.
Mine looked like that until I snipped the heads off (down to just above the top new buds) a few weeks ago, whereas my rhododendron still has its leaves from last year.

[veggiechicken]

Another vote for hydrangeas and for cutting off the dead heads once the cold spell is over. I haven't done mine yet.
Hydrangea flowers change colour according to your soil type. Blue for acid - pink for alkaline.
More at https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=122

Rhododendron are usually evergreen.

[Snadger]

You can cut the spent flower heads of hydrangeas. Flower arrangers like them.

You will find out whether your soil is acid or alkaline when they flower. If the flowers are blue you have acid soil and if pink you have alkaline soil.

[Snadger]

Must learn to read all the previous posts so as not to repeat stuff already mentioned!

[veggiechicken]

At least we all agree - for once.

[chris_m]

At least we all agree - for once.

Oh no we don't - oops, sorry, wrong season

[DannyK]

I thought flower heads were left on for frost protection.

Some of my buds frosted so will not prune till warmer.

[mysteryduck]

Brilliant! Thanks team! Google says this is the right time to prune so that’s perfect! I’ll give them a chop just above the green leaves once the snow melts

[chris_m]

Mine were left on when I moved in 2 years ago and I didn't get around to doing them till late March - nice easy plant to prune for a novice, because I could see the new shoots to judge how far back to prune them.

Last year, I did the same.

This year, there was still some colour in the heads until after Christmas but once that had gone and the new buds started forming, I chopped the heads off. Doesn't seem to have done them any harm.

[rary]

I do the same as DannyK I leave the top growth as protection from frost till mid April or beginning of May