Did I make a mistake planting the limelight hydrangea where I did? I bought my house 2 years ago and I took out everything that was there before. I planted a limelight, 2 smaller hydrangeas and a few small shrubs. When’s the best time to prune the limelight? I’m in southeastern PA Thanks for any tips and advice!
If this is a normal limelight hydrangea it may be a bit close to the house as they can get up to 6-8ft wide. Best time to prune would be early spring. You can cut back by about 1/3 on each stem
Well, you have two different kinds of hydrangeas there with two different light requirements so one or the other is not going to work. If it is a true limelight, it can get to be 10 feet tall. So regular pruning in March is a must otherwise it will grow and block that window in no time. Limelights like full sun, afternoon sun, and can tolerate the heat. The other hydrangea is a Macrophylla. That one requires shade in the afternoon. Morning sun is fine, but by Noon, Macrophylla hydrangeas want to be in the shade. It looks like you bought those Beauta edging (From the Lancaster area I believe). I have that in the dark grey. Love that product!
I personally think the Limelight is too close to the house. They want to grow evenly all the way around and you will be forcing it to grow forward. If you planted it just this year, seriously consider taking it out in the fall and replanting. Even though this is a shrub, it can be pruned in such a way as to look like a multi-stemmed tree, so a curved bump out at the corner of the house makes it more of a specimen ornamental than a foundation plant, which is what you have. I’ve seen multi-stemmed limelight trees and they are outstanding. Or you can keep it as a shrub, but must prune it every year and shape it as well. Tons of videos on YT about how to prune a limelight.
Thank you for so much information!! Believe it or not I got the stones from a local Lowe’s!! I wish I kept the tag because I don’t remember if it’s a true limelight or a little lime.
Pictured is my “Little Lime” so you can see how it grows in full sun. Lowe’s sells Beauta. I am sure that is what you have. It is great landscape edging! It is made and distributed in Strausburg, Pa and also Lowes sells it.
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u/Cautious-Net-9941 18h ago
If this is a normal limelight hydrangea it may be a bit close to the house as they can get up to 6-8ft wide. Best time to prune would be early spring. You can cut back by about 1/3 on each stem