How do I get my peegee hydrangea to not droop?

3 years ago

Ihave several peegees (i think they are limelight but i'm not sure). I planted them all behind some boxwoods. I took one of them and planted it by itself.

The shubs that are grouped together have huge blooms that weigh down the shurbs.

The solitary shrub has good, airy structure and small blooms.

I prefer that airy more uniform look. The shrub looks very vigorous. How do I get the other shrubs to look more sturdy come bloom time? I don't necessarily want a "tree form". The solitary shrub was never pruned to be a "tree form". Remember...its the same shrub as those that are grouped together. I just replanted it elsewhere.

I also know that the drooping peegees are healthy and that many people love that look. But i know the solitary shrub is healthy as well. It flowers first and longest. I love the way the blooms protrude beyond the leaves.

Any suggestions?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
never fert them ... and cut back on lawn fert.. spread near their root zone ...

frankly.. yours look great.. and frankly again.. you are complaining.. because they are thriving with a flair .. me thinks doth protect too much ... or something like that ... though your user names suggest you aint no lady.. lol ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=me+thinks+doth+protect+too+much&ia=web

also.. the solitary one.. is getting full sun around the entire plant.. the ones set in a line.. half the plant is inside the next plant down.. the only place it gets the full sun it thrives on .. is the top .. so those are bending over.. to allow some below to get more sun access ... i suppose there might be someway to thin them.. so they get more sun.. and perhaps that would stop the weeping feature that you dont prefer ...

regardless.. try not to screw it up.. what you have is fine.. and what you might end up with.. might be worse .. one of my go to logics when i dont want to work on something.. lol ...

ken
rpwoodard
3 years ago
Michael,
I have the same issue. I have 2 Limelights next to each other and 2 Little Limes next to each other. One droops, the other does t. They’re given the same amount t of water & sun.

Throughout my yard with 50+ paniculatas, I’ve noticed more drooping in those that don’t get as much sun as the others.

The same person pruned all of them, so the same pruning methods were used.

Some of the LL were young & some appeared to be more mature by at least 1 year. I wonder if the LL that are drooping are the younger ones.

I’m re-reading Deborah Silver’s pruning recommendations & will decide if any of the techniques will address this issue. I believe I’ll prune to encourage smaller blooms.
Related Professionals
Selma Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Auburn Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lawton Landscape Contractors · Mesquite Landscape Contractors · Alexandria Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Johnson City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Anniston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Webster Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salinas Landscape Contractors · Harrisonburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Logan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Paducah Landscape Contractors · Hagerstown Landscape Contractors · Janesville Design-Build Firms · Helena Design-Build Firms