Can't be any worse than taking out some English Hollys I did 2 years ago...took a bit of divisive work with a couple of jacks and some persuasion and maybe some choice words.

Aren't hydra roots - don't they spread out horizontal more than vertical....which might make the job easier ...LOL, easier typing than doing, I suppose.

Very few plant roots descend vertically.......virtually ALL plant roots extend horizontally, even very large trees.

OT, but anyone with ES. I was thinking about the Bloom strucks, in which I've driven by quite a bit and it's always a eyepopper....

A short googlings seems to have a mixed bag on feedback on the ES variants.

In a zone 7 or higher, any of the Endless Summer series hydrangeas should behave and perform just like any other mac or serrata. They can get big and tend to bloom heavily.

Gardening is just one of those that can't be rushed. I had like thirty #5 Green Velvets at my mothers house for 2 years before we found a house we like ;-)

For those in the know, how many years do you think a #10 ES will take to have canes that are quite strong so it's not one floppy bunch.

Planted a couple of Pee Gee Trees awhile back, and some still don't have the thickness to just stay ~up~

3 years

If you want to save a few cuttings of the old Mac, cut the thick branches to about 18 inches or so - pull off the lower leaves and put them - as many as fit with an inch or so between the branches - into a 5 gal. of soil. Keep moist - protect over winter and in Spring you will have a whole bunch of new plants! Bury the branches about 1/3 to 1/2 of their length into the pot of soil. Cover with plastic if you want - or not - if you bring them into a garage or ? for zone colder than 7-8. No fertilizer or any thing else - just keep them moist and from freezing and replant in spring. Don't worry if they get ugly - have faith and if you just can't wait for spring, carefully dig - don't pull them and check. They should have some little white roots by Halloween.