Comments on: Hardy Hydrangeas

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:22:43 +0000

Straylight, I haven’t tried the Endless Summer Hydrangea, because of the mixed reports about how they have done in this zone. Though, I should try one to see how it does in my garden. The ‘Little Lamb’ does well, and it was flourishing soon after planting. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ also does well here.

By: Straylight

Straylight — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:24:29 +0000

Hello Northern Shade,
I just found your site and it’s been a real inspiration for me. Originally from southern Ontario, I’ve lived in Prince George, British Columbia for about 5 years now…and other than ferns, lupins and peonies I’m still struggling to establish a northern perennial garden, with too much shade!
I was wondering if you’ve tried the ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangeas. I’ve read that they’re really Zone 4, but they seem to be the only hydrangea in the stores here. I’ve tried twice and they seem to suffer major shock just bringing them home, and they never recover. Your ‘Little Lamb’ looks perfect though…if only I could find one! Are they not so hard to transplant?

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 23 May 2010 17:08:15 +0000

Gardener_from_Edmonton, the PG and Little Lamb have done well for me. The older PG, especially, gets loads of blooms. They are always slow to leaf out in spring, playing it safe. My Hydrangeas have just a few leaf buds on the woody stems so far, but perhaps with the bit of snow we got this morning, and the almost freezing overnight temperatures, it’s just as well they are delaying. I think they are just waiting for consistently warmer temperatures, or longer sunlight. I’ll post back later in the season about how they do.

By: Gardener_from_Edmonton

Gardener_from_Edmonton — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:51:14 +0000

Hello Northern Shade,
Since I found your website, I visit it a lot, as there are not many other websites about gardening in Edmonton. I’m new to this area and it’s very interesting to see, what actually can grow here. First I was very enthusiastic about hydrangeas, I have 1 Little Lamb (planted 2 years ago) and 2 PGs (last year), but they are not doing good at all in my garden. Last year Little Lamb was just hardly alive with little leaves, without any flowers. It’s the end of May now and they look almost dead, even I protected them with big amount of mulch. Only 2 of 3 bushes have just couple little leaves , coming from underground. How yours are looking now? Do they have already any leaves on woody stems?

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:02:20 +0000

Rebecca, you’re welcome.

By: Rebecca @ In The Garden

Rebecca @ In The Garden — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:19:34 +0000

Thanks so much for the info, I really appreciate it. :)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:34:05 +0000

Rebecca, I mainly just prune off the faded flowers in early spring. My Hydrangea paniculata have a nice shape, so I haven’t had to reshape them. They are not overgrown, so I haven’t had to rejunenate them. I’ve removed the odd dead branch, and that’s about it. They have flowered well for me so far.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:56:15 +0000

Northern, how do you prune your H.paniculata? I’ve read a variety of things, from prune to 6 inches in late winter, to prune a few stems at the ground, or prune 1/3 to 1/2 of height. I would like to encourage good healthy growth and (of course) flowering. Any suggestions would be appreciated. :)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:08:49 +0000

Rebecca, I don’t move my shrubs much. Usually, I try the perennial in one spot for the season, and if I get a better idea, or think it would look better next to some other plant, or am rearranging the bed, I’ll move it the next year. Occasionally, I’ll move it that fall, if I’m redoing a bed. Since the flowering time is usually off the first year you plant a perennial, after the second year, when I see its blooming time in my garden, I might move it to go with other flowers.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:42:14 +0000

NS, just wondering what your thoughts are on moving a newly planted shrub or perennial? I use the rule of thumb that anything in the ground for less than 1 month is fair game to move. I’ve had sucess with this, do you use a specific guideline? Thanks. :)