tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post3209946342141230371..comments2024-03-18T11:10:53.348-07:00Comments on The Plant Hunter: How did Your Hydrangeas Bloom this Year?Tim Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06841228763204634681noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-65855049440261085622010-07-28T06:47:33.239-07:002010-07-28T06:47:33.239-07:00I think you will see that Let's Dance Starligh...I think you will see that Let's Dance Starlight gets better every year. With maturity the flower size rivals those in the Teller Series. We have some pretty cool reblooming serratas in the pipeline, so I think these will be out in the next few years. Plus they have better stem hardiness than Hyd. marcrophylla. I have also seen some very good oak leaf breeding. So there is a lot of good plants coming.Tim Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841228763204634681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-58028673601879315832010-07-28T06:04:12.185-07:002010-07-28T06:04:12.185-07:00Couple questions for you, Tim:
1) When are we goi...Couple questions for you, Tim:<br /><br />1) When are we going to see a remontant lacecap with some of the charm and style of the older varieties? Starlight's nice, but not gasp-worthy, like some of the serratas. <br /><br />2) Will oakleaf's ever get a big push? These wonderful shrubs are so underappreciated. Snowflake is absolutely incredible.Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-38751831015613897282010-07-22T11:26:03.691-07:002010-07-22T11:26:03.691-07:00Prune established plants as little as possible. Re...Prune established plants as little as possible. Remove the old flowers in late fall or early spring. Not every stem produces a flower so you can prune them back hard without sacrificing the flower. (Do so before July 1 so that plant can grow, and set flower buds before fall). This creates more stems and thus more flowers. Pruning these stems low make it easier to protect them (snow / mulch) and the flower buds. There should be no reason to remove good flowers. If heat is a problem - then the plant is 1) in too much sun 2) not getting enough water or 3) it is a poor variety.Tim Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841228763204634681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-84839080894859115722010-07-21T05:54:54.217-07:002010-07-21T05:54:54.217-07:00By the by, your article is about pruning young Hyd...By the by, your article is about pruning young Hydrangeas, you don't mention how to prune older, established Hydrangeas for bloom. Is it correct to cut off all of the flowers before fall? If an older branch does not flower do you cut it back 6" to the ground? If the plant is under great heat/sun stress are less flowers better for it (I cut off many blooms this year because there were too many for the plant to survive the heat wave). Was that correct? Please advise.Basherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09582531137493918902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-62278898883402064142010-07-21T05:50:53.650-07:002010-07-21T05:50:53.650-07:00No doubt - this was a great year for hydrangeas he...No doubt - this was a great year for hydrangeas here in Michigan. We had constant snow cover all winter long. Spring was a bit wacky - we did have some very hard frosts but our hydrangeas seem to have escaped damage while my Rose of Sharon had all there leaves frozen off.Tim Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841228763204634681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-62653033930326657362010-07-21T05:45:47.835-07:002010-07-21T05:45:47.835-07:00Lucky us! We live in zone 5, didn't pay much a...Lucky us! We live in zone 5, didn't pay much attention to pruning and lucky us we had TONS of blooms this year on both our Endless Summer and Pinky Winky's and a macrophylia lacecap (whose name is unknown to us). Just dumb luck I guess! Your article is terrific though and I will use the info in the future. Thank you for sharing!Basherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09582531137493918902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-19078503538482866152010-07-20T08:04:42.977-07:002010-07-20T08:04:42.977-07:00Tim, my Endless Summer hydrangeas did wonderfully ...Tim, my Endless Summer hydrangeas did wonderfully here in VA in spite of all the snow we got this past winter. In fact, I think its because of the snow that they became "shrubbier" and more dense and full than usual. I think the snow insulated the buds up and down the stems from the cold air, and thus I had growth coming not just from the crown, but from the stems as well. Additionally, I have pink, purple, and blue on the same flower heads!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-84101358014407104302010-07-18T08:37:38.246-07:002010-07-18T08:37:38.246-07:00Just a word for people who want to grow hydrangeas...Just a word for people who want to grow hydrangeas in harsher climates. Here in Sundridge, Ontario (zone 3b) H. paniculata grows slowly but flowers well in full sun, no winter protection needed.Just Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033861391935900320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-58579282273849926212010-07-17T20:08:56.767-07:002010-07-17T20:08:56.767-07:00Thanks for the great advise Tim. I agree with the ...Thanks for the great advise Tim. I agree with the comment on the Miracle Grow. There are far superior fertilizers then it. I had the best year for my hydrangeas. The real damage this year was from the heavy snow fall. It broke many of my stems from the weight. My Endless Summers were gorgeous for the first time in years. Bits of Lace finally bloomed, Twist and Shout was fabulous. Even my Little Honey bloomed. The only one that did not flower was Fuji Waterfall and it got snow damaged. I have been burlaping some of my more exposed plants and covering with frost clothes when we have freeze or frost warnings. It seems to have done the trick. I am going to try the pruning tips this year and will let you know the results. Thanks again. I enjoy reading your blog.<br />GardenGalGardenGalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03475432387640946039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-50716115283535188782010-07-17T15:21:08.161-07:002010-07-17T15:21:08.161-07:00I second the comment about Miracle-Gro. I actuall...I second the comment about Miracle-Gro. I actually can't believe you said that. Let's give compost or well-rotted manure a plug instead.Ailsahttp://www.hortusurbanus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-23150613558856486202008-11-10T12:32:00.000-08:002008-11-10T12:32:00.000-08:00Good words.Good words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-43292826317226312222008-01-26T18:05:00.000-08:002008-01-26T18:05:00.000-08:00Looks like you are bringing us some exciting new h...Looks like you are bringing us some exciting new hydrangea varieties! Your comments about gardeners in milder climates who might not wish to grow rebloomers may be true for some areas. But I've found that most southern locations (such as South Carolina)that tend to have mild winters but cold springs are constantly being hurt by late spring freezes and frosts. Most years, when few hydrangeas are blooming, some rebloomers (remontant) would be greatly enjoyed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-40553947461786231052007-10-02T18:06:00.000-07:002007-10-02T18:06:00.000-07:00Great advice, but I think there are much better fe...Great advice, but I think there are much better fertilizers then Miracle Grow.GardenGalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03475432387640946039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-32003437187947518062007-10-02T17:27:00.000-07:002007-10-02T17:27:00.000-07:00Thanks, your article was very informative. especia...Thanks, your article was very informative. especially about cutting back water and fert. in fall to help produce flower buds.<BR/>For the past 2 years I have been wrapping my hydrangeas in burlap, erecting cages around them and filling the cages with leaves to protect them in winter. this past season 42 of 44 bloomed. <BR/>I'm in zone 6b southeastern PA.<BR/>Many years I had very few or no blooms.<BR/>Mike O'HaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-17941673037572096792007-09-27T12:58:00.000-07:002007-09-27T12:58:00.000-07:00My husband and I still argue about when to prune. ...My husband and I still argue about when to prune. This year, he took a pair of hand pruners to them in the spring and I almost had a heart attack. Mine have been in the ground for 2 years now and they're doing ok, but I wonder about that early pruning.Sara Tambasciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15756047434790240290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21768867.post-75285889061232886482007-09-17T08:58:00.000-07:002007-09-17T08:58:00.000-07:00Thank you! This is the best accessible piece that...Thank you! This is the best accessible piece that I have seen on growing H macrophilla.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com