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Pruning 'Summer Crush' Hydrangea in Late Summer or Early Fall

Hydrangea 'Summer Crush' in June... in September Pruning can be a complicated project, especially when it comes to hydrangeas (I can think of one more plant that causes pruning headaches - clematis). That said, if you grow many hydrangeas, especially different types, once you get the hang of it, it begins to come naturally. I used to rarely prune my hydrangeas because I had more space. Now, with a smaller garden, I'm finding that some are getting too large for comfort. Case in point, 'Summer Crush'. It is actually not a huge hydrangea, but it does get larger than advertised - about 5 feet in my garden (the tag said 3-4'). 'Summer Crush' is in the 'Endless Summer' line of hydrangeas and they are among the easier to prune. This is because they bloom on both old and new wood. Therefore, no matter when you prune, you should get blooms. It is the older hydrangeas, the ones that only bloom on old wood, that you have to be careful with. I would recomm...
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Napping under maples



Someone once expressed a lack of appreciation for Japanese Maples to garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence to which she replied, "Then you have never crawled underneath one on an October day."

Try this sometime - I think she has a valid point.
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  1. F CameronNovember 11, 2008 at 7:20 AM

    Hey Phillip...pretty maple!

    You've got a blogspot crazy word wrap thing around your photo. Happens to me all the time and drives me a bit nutty trying to fix it without publishing it 10 times to see how it really looks (preview is terrible, isn't it).

    If you put the html code for a line break before and after your photo it should fix it. That would be a
    used the same way, before and after.

    Hope this helps.

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  2. F CameronNovember 11, 2008 at 7:21 AM

    Of course, it took out my html code for the line break when I put it in my comment!

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  3. Phillip OliverNovember 11, 2008 at 7:29 AM

    Thanks Cameron, let me see if I can fix that!

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  4. Roses and LilacsNovember 11, 2008 at 8:25 AM

    I love Japanese maples, mostly for the leaves, shape and color. Since they seem to be a favorite of Japanese beetles, I don't grow them. My loss, I know.
    Marnie

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  5. F CameronNovember 11, 2008 at 8:46 AM

    Beautiful! Thanks...I really wanted to read what you had to say, too. :-)

    Cheers,
    Cameron

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  6. GailNovember 11, 2008 at 9:13 AM

    I love that story.. Gail

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  7. Philip BewleyNovember 12, 2008 at 9:27 AM

    I love staring upwards into trees. This would be the perfect spot for a hammock!
    Best ,
    Philip

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  8. Digital Flower PicturesNovember 12, 2008 at 6:46 PM

    The colors you have been posting are fantastic.

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  9. LesNovember 13, 2008 at 6:50 PM

    Beautiful! If scares me that Marnie says that Japanese beetles eat Japanese Maples. We have both, but fortunately the beetles must prefer other snacks.

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  10. tinaNovember 14, 2008 at 3:53 PM

    I simply adore the J. maples. Can't believe anyone would not appreciate them.

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  11. CosmoNovember 15, 2008 at 6:43 PM

    I love Japanese maples, too, and your photos are gorgeous. But lying on the ground in October in Virginia?--umm, I'm guessing someone in your household might share my views on that idea. I think dragging out the tarp, the yoga mats and the umbrellas might kind of spoil the moment. Kidding--you've really captured the magic of looking up into trees.

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  12. AnonymousNovember 17, 2008 at 6:09 PM

    I love your photography! Would you mind sharing what your equipment is?

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  13. Phillip OliverNovember 18, 2008 at 4:28 PM

    Thanks Louise. I have a Nikon D50 with various lenses. I also use Photoshop to tweak color, contrast, etc.

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