in year two.. im thinking the plant is not fully established. and only part of the plant is growing in a mature fashion ... i would just let them be.. and let them sort themselves out ...

so.. in my case.. i wouldnt have cut off the parts that were showing a mature growth rate ... showing that they were fully established.. forcing them back to the size of the other ...

hindsight is 50/50.. next time.. ask first???

ken

That's interesting. So there is a chance they will eventually produce even growth. I will be happy to leave them alone and I'll keep them well watered. The one I cut back is in it's 3rd year. I bought that one first and I liked it enough to buy a second one the next spring. So when I cut the errant branch back it was this past spring in it's 3rd year. The one in the photo is the 2nd one I bought and is in it's 2nd year. I didn't touch this one yet. Thank you!

Could it be that because it is one of the newer hybrids, that it might not be stable and will continue to produce this kind of growth?

I already fertilized them both this spring, with Hollytone. Good or bad idea?

That's good to know Thyme - So did you do any pruning while your hydrangeas were filling out? Which varieties do you have? Which is your favorite? I'm going to buy a couple more paniculatas for my back to replace some Endless Summer mopheads and I'm trying to decide which to get. I'd also like to get a larger one for one location and not sure if a straight Lime is the way to go.

I haven't pruned any of them, unless I want to get them more in the shape of a tree, Pee Gee and Tardiva, for example. I planted a handful of Bobo a few years ago, and I have to say this is probably my favorite at this point. It gets to a decent size (4 x 4) and gets a lot of flowers. I have them in full sun as well as some pretty good shade and they all flower (the ones in sun flower much more). I also planted a Tuff Stuff a few years ago. It is loaded with buds this year and appears to be a pretty reliable bloomer. This is the only one I have that won't have white flowers.

If you're looking for a paniculata, I would say my favorite is Bobo. Smaller, almost lacier flowers.

Thyme - That looks full and has a very even growth. I was on the fence between BoBo and Little Lime. I'll probably end up getting Bobo as well for the back.

I was looking at both 'Little Lime' today, no blooms forming yet, but the one that is the older one in the garden did start off with a few branches sticking up almost a foot higher than the rest, but now it seems some of the others are stretching up higher too. Maybe it is just a question of settling in and maturing.

I'll take another photo once it has some blooms on it. Thanks for posting yours Thyme. :-). Very pretty!

I have another hydrangea, I think 'Quickfire' that is only a couple years old. It also has branches sticking up and uneven. I assume it will all "even out" in the end. Good luck!

I know it’s an old thread but I am just seeing it! @thyme2dig your bobo is growing so beautifully! I have seen a few photos of Bobo looking where it is delicate and arching like this with airy blossoms but most are really full round fluffy ball-like shrubs. I would like to get mine to grow like yours and ai read that you don’t really prune them. Do you mean that you simply deadhead and leave the stems as is or that you don’t touch them even to deadhead? Sorry to be so specific and apologies if this is an elementary question!