Fashionably Late

Crisp white against the dark green leaves

I had meant to blog weeks ago about my favorite late-blooming hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva', but I, like this shrub, am a bit tardy.  Actually, my Tardivas began blooming in mid-August (and still a few presentable blossoms a week ago).  Just as the garden was winding down and the other hydrangeas were past their prime, Hydrangea 'Tardiva' provided fresh, white color opposite the pool.  Blended among my mixed shrub hedge, this bush's vegetation helps create privacy and a lush background for ferns and anemones well before the blooms appear to steal the show.

This species and particularly this cultivar is easy to grow with limited maintenance.  Since they bloom on new wood, I did read that you should prune these in winter to remove old blooms, improve structure and open up plant.  Unfortunately, I did this after their first season with poor results.  The new branches that popped out the following spring were weak and contorted into wildly crooked shapes.  I have since limited my pruning to cutting out only the most odd-growing limbs.  I would suggest holding off on any pruning (except deadheading) for a season or two. My shrubs are now about 6 feet high with mostly straight branches.

A colorful addition to the privacy screen around the pool

In my Hamptons garden, the Hydrangea 'Tardiva' bloom with partial sun, but they supposedly are more floriferous with full sun.  They are pretty drought tolerant once they are established.  I've noticed that limbs touching the soil root easily so you could propagate these easily.

And while I'm a little late sharing my adoration for this late summer shrub, now is a perfect time to plant some for next year.  In fact, I added several more to my collection this autumn so they will be well acclimated by next summer.  The added benefit to late season planting is that most shrubs are heavily discounted at the local nurseries.  Just goes to show you that being late isn't always that bad.

Ostrich ferns fill in at the base

Hard Lessons

'Nikko Blue'  mingling with agastache.

Pruning hydrangeas can be tricky business.  Those blooming on new wood, like the native hydrangea arborescens, are pretty foolproof.  Cut almost to the ground each winter, they grow back and bloom even bigger than with no pruning.

However, my 'Nikko Blue' mopheads (Hydrangea macrophylla) have caused me much angst in the past.  So much conflicting advice out there:  "prune them right after blooming",  "prune them in winter",  "don't prune them at all".  I've tried each of these with poor results.  Some years, like last year,  I had no blooms at all.   I had such envy driving by gardens where the Nikko Blues were loaded.

Planted next to rear windows, mine needed some pruning each year.  So I read more on pruning, talked to more successful gardeners, and thought about my own experiences.  Then a light went on.

One year, I just didn't get around to pruning them until early March when the late snow melted.  Discovering the top buds enlarging,  I rushed out and pruned, hoping I hadn't waited too late.  That year I had the most spectacular display of blooms.

This year, I patiently waited for March to arrive before grabbing my Felco #11 pruners.  After the trim, I added some Plant-tone fertilizer for added insurance.  Spread a little ammonium sulfate to intensify the blue color (if they bloomed).  And after all that, I still wasn't sure what the outcome would be.

So when late May rolled around and I saw tons of flower buds forming on my Nikko Blues, I did a little happy dance.  I still can't believe my outcome.  And the blooms keep coming.

WOW!

I can't say this lesson applies to every garden in every region.  But I did find some rational explanations to my success this year.  Michael Dirr, in his beautiful book, Hydrangeas for American Gardens, mentioned that hydrangea macrophylla flower buds develop on old wood of the previous year.  However, flower buds are often present along the entire length of the stem.  When the tops are cut, lower buds are called into action.  

Another source explained why August and September pruning failed.  Before winter dormancy, pruning  simulates new growth that uses up energy reserves needed to set next year's flower buds.

I may not have formal training, but when it comes to hydrangea macrophylla,  the school of hard knocks has given me a pretty good education.

Small additions of ammonium sulfate produce a pleasing blue.

Have You Seen My Neighbors?

Hydrangeas add color to the hedge.

Hope not.  I have nothing personal against my neighbors (well, maybe one).  However, when I'm in my garden, I enjoy a sense of being in a secluded wilderness.

So when it came time to plant a privacy screen down by the swimming pool,  I forgo the ubiquitous privet hedge that has become a Hampton's status symbol.  Instead, I created a more natural looking mixed planting of trees, shrubs, and perennials.  This design mimics Mother Nature's woodland layout of trees overhead, shrubs forming an understory, and wildflowers and grasses edging towards the sunny clearings.

Views of neighboring houses completely blocked.

The project began by removing some of the scrub oaks and limbing up the remaining trees to let in more light.  Eastern white pines were dotted along the fence perimeter in a zigzag pattern.  The spaces between these were filled with a variety of shrubs, including big leaf rhododendrons, witch hazels, hollies, viburnums, junipers and hydrangeas.  Perennials, ferns and grasses edged the front.

Trees, shrubs and perennials provide a natural looking screen.

It took a few years to complete the plantings and some time for everything to grow together.  The result is a very dense privacy screen that also provides colorful foliage and flowers throughout the year.

With a number of deciduous plants among the evergreens,  it doesn't offer as much privacy in winter. That's fine with me.  I'm not much for winter swimming.

Purple Passion

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PURPLE PASSION

American Beauties

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AMERICAN BEAUTIES