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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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Edging the Pan Garden



A long overdue project is in the bag. I've always thought that the Pan Garden (the small garden right off the deck and the very first area I created in this garden) would look better with a rock edging. For years, we've put up with the heavy plastic edging and while it does keep the grass from creeping into the beds, it doesn't stay in place that well and stone looks so much better. 

Before -



After - 



Michael is to be credited with this - he did virtually all the work. I transported the pavers from the truck to the garden and helped dispose of the soil he removed. Here he is hard at work - 


We have more of the plastic edging around the front pathway and borders that I would eventually like to replace. I really love the rusty steel edging but I'm still not sure where one buys it. I do have some leads that I have not followed up on. Another day!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. AnonymousMay 5, 2022 at 6:22 AM

    Kudos to Michael for a job well done. Nice to have found a dry enough day to finish this job!

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    1. Phillip OliverMay 5, 2022 at 7:36 AM

      Yes and just in time. Back to more rain today!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMay 5, 2022 at 6:31 AM

    Nice job by Michael! Looks really good. Funny I'm pondering doing the same sort of edging in my veg/cutting garden. That plastic edging is not satisfactory--the blocks look so much better.

    Commenting Anonymous because of the new browser/blogspot problem with third-party cookie blocking. --Hoov (pieceofeden)

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    1. Phillip OliverMay 5, 2022 at 7:37 AM

      Oh good to hear from you. I had trouble commenting on your blog last week.

      Delete
  3. Kris PetersonMay 5, 2022 at 12:02 PM

    Nicely done! It's great to have a partner's help in the garden. I'd probably still be removing lawn and laying flagstones if I hadn't had similar help.

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  4. AnonymousMay 6, 2022 at 4:51 AM

    Is that Pan watching over Michael’s work? Is he carrying a planter on his head?

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    1. Phillip OliverMay 6, 2022 at 7:39 AM

      It is a planter and I haven't even put plants in yet. He came without it and we found the planter at a box store that incredibly matched it.

      Delete
  5. Barbara H.May 6, 2022 at 7:04 AM

    Hurray for Michael. Great job. I have the pavers laid flat and it really helps. I love the upright pavers, too, but I have far too many beds to tackle that part of it.

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