I think we're on the same page but let me extrapolate

Most of the macro's seems to have a general approximate listing of a growth size of 5x5. Now I know site conditions may dictate that footprint to some degree....

For arguments sake, let's say we divide that # and just add another foot. So we're talking 3 feet and change On Center....

What I'm sorta thinking is to take 2 plants, and plant then even closer - so that the 2 shrubs will fill in the same growth footprint earlier, but I just prune the center/interiors so that it creates 1 round.

Actually, I would amend luis' advice to plant the full 2' apart :-) Since each example plant can be expected to grow the 1' (half the mature spread) in the direction of its neighbor and its neighbor will do the same, you will wind up with some serious conflict going on at the bordering edge!! And that can lead to various shared problems :-)

Coming from a landscape design viewpoint, it is always best to site plants so that they can grow to their full width potential and only just nudge their neighbors - not intermix or conflict with them. This is a bit different if you are planting a formal, sheared hedge, but a loosely rounded, deciduous shrub needs sufficient space to grow unimpeded. And "full width potential" is a very nebulous number :-) Given that woody plants never stop growing until they die, the width can continue to increase over the lifespan of the plant, often exceeding the 'tagged' width.

OK. I guess planting 2 shrubs in the footprint of 1 was not a good idea...

It's just a hard pill to swallow if going from a 6x5 to a itty bitty 5G, 7G, etc...

Plants grow :-) And gardeners need patience.....that's almost as important as having the right tools!!

One of the most difficult lessons I need to school my design clients on is not to overplant or plant things too closely. New plantings will often look sparse or undersized.....and that's to be expected. If it looked full and lush immediately, they would be ripping plants out down the road or encountering all manner of disease and shading issues. If it looks bare, fill in with annuals or groundcovers.

GG. Gardening is time testing for sure....I think watching paint dry is faster.

If only someone could just gift me that magical wand, where I just blink my eyes, twinkle my toes and everything is all to it's mature size ;-)

Sidenote. In comparing the 10G potted I bought last year to the 3Gs, while instant gratification of purchased size is a ++, I feel like the smaller ones with the more loosely root system might fare better transplanting - than big heavy rootball of a shrub - where the rootball pot plug is not even easy to loose up.

The good thing is that "small" hydrangeas grow fast. Try doing thae same with camellias and paint will dry reeeeal fast!!!! Hee, hee, hee.