Skip to main content

Featured

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - September 2020

 

Sumac 'Tiger Eyes', Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer' (Sneezeweed), Aster 'Kickin' Purple'

Although the Pacific Northwest is enveloped in a cloud of smoke and haze at the moment, a recent article indicates that plants may actually get some benefits. Looking at the garden right now, I don't see any of them suffering. In fact, there are lots of blooms to share for September.

If the photos have a slight sepia tone, you will understand.

Hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers'

Rose 'Lady Emma Hamilton'

Echinacea 'White Swan' and Dorycnium hirsutum (Silver Lotus Clover)


Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Redhead' and Juniperus conferta 'All Gold'


Salvia 'Hot Lips' and Sedum 'Cherry Truffle'

A confused rhododendron

Epilobium septentrionalis ‘Select Mattole’ (California Fuchsia)


Caryopteris 'Good as Gold'

Fuchsia 'Firecracker'

Hibiscus 'Purple Pillar' (Rose of Sharon)

Hydrangea 'Bloomstruck'

Hydrangea 'Rave' ('Let's Dance')

Impatiens

Spanish Flag vine (Ipomoea lobata) and Rose 'Gold Medal'


Star Flower 'Patti's Pink' (Isotoma axillaris) 

Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa 'Jealousy')

Persicaria 'Blackfield'


Rose 'Cornelia'

Rose 'Home Run'

Sedum and Rose 'Double Delight'

Crape Myrtle 'Catawba' (Lagerstoemia)


Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for creating Garden Blogger's Bloom Day. Follow the link to find other bloggers who are sharing their blooms this month.

Email Post

Comments

  1. chavlinessSeptember 15, 2020 at 8:04 AM

    Toady's blooms' day post was a very welcome eye candy this morning, a respite from the nastiness outside. Photo 15, of Spanish Flag vine and Rose 'Gold Medal', is especially splendid.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dorothy BordersSeptember 15, 2020 at 10:31 AM

    You gotta love those hydrangeas. And everything else in your garden. Just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kris PetersonSeptember 15, 2020 at 11:52 AM

    You always put together spectacular combinations, Phillip. I love the Spanish flag vine with the rose in particular. Your 'Lady Emma Hamilton' puts mine to shame. The smoke hasn't seemed to bother the plants here either so I guess we have to be thankful for small favors.. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Karin / Southern MeadowsSeptember 15, 2020 at 12:57 PM

    Your plant combinations are stunning! I have salvia 'lip stick' but it isn't blooming as wonderfully as yours. Do you fertilize with anything special?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverSeptember 15, 2020 at 2:47 PM

      Thank you Karen. No, I don't fertilizer the salvias with the exception of giving them a little when I plant them. From what I've learned, they like plain soil, nothing too rich.

      Delete
  5. MulchMaidSeptember 15, 2020 at 2:29 PM

    Is Hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers' really that orange, or is it being colored by smoke? Gorgeous! And I would love that Epilobium for Astoria. I'll have to see if deer like it...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverSeptember 15, 2020 at 2:48 PM

      That is probably the smoke giving it the orange color. It does have a rich, pinkish color that comes on pretty quickly.

      Delete
  6. Hoover BooSeptember 15, 2020 at 4:31 PM

    Your garden looks fabulous, despite the smoke. Those purple hydrangeas are wonderful, the roses also.

    Here everything has a sprinkling of ash, despite the fires being quite far off. Hope your smoke clears soon and the crisis eases. Another disaster on top of Covid-19. Take care with that air so dirty.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Arun GoyalSeptember 16, 2020 at 12:01 AM

    Wow! Beautiful blooms. Those roses are spectacular .It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/09/peacock-flower-beauty.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lisa at GreenbowSeptember 16, 2020 at 9:28 PM

    You have so many beautiful blooms. Fun to see them all.

    ReplyDelete
  9. CanadianGardenJoySeptember 18, 2020 at 12:55 PM

    All of these gorgeous plants look so healthy and happy !
    I really love the combinations and placements .. I think I went a bit "mad" for hydrangea last year and crammed so many in , that my gardens revolve around hydrangea .. other plants are their companions LOL ... but oh they do look so gorgeous when they start changing colour in the Autumn.
    I miss having roses .. yours are stunning ! .. I just don't have the space or sun values any more for them, I have to enjoy other gardener's ?

    ReplyDelete
  10. betty-NZSeptember 19, 2020 at 6:18 PM

    My what a fascinating variety of colors and textures!


    Feel free to share at My Corner of the World

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment